Traditionally, banks are more conservative with their investment dollars. Unlike many venture capitalists or angel investors, they are far more likely to approve a loan for an established business over a startup or emerging company. This is largely due to the fact that they are investing the money of their depositors. However, thanks to government agencies such as the Small Business Administration (SBA), which work with many banks, small business owners can get business loans from banks with a strong business plan and well-prepared business loan request.

Lenders are squeezing U.S. consumers for as much as $4.2 billion annually in the steep fees charged for payday loans, according to an end-of-year study released by the Center for Responsible Lending and other consumer advocacy groups. To pay back a $325 loan, the average payday-loan borrower pays a total of $793. The average annual interest rate on such loans runs about 400%, according to the study.

It's never easy to say no to someone you love, especially when they come to you in need of cash. But lending a financial hand can leave you out of money and out of sorts with your friends and relatives. I often hear from people who have loaned money to someone they care about deeply, only to have to deal with the fallout when they don't get repaid.

When a preferred loan officer moves on, small-business owners should treat it as an opportunity to step back and re-evaluate their loan relationships. Most small business owners, at least once in their professional careers, find themselves in a situation when their lender -- a lending officer, loan officer, or account officer -- leaves the bank. If this hasn't happened to you yet, chances are it will. For businesses just starting out, your relationship may be too small for a lending institution to provide a dedicated lender. But as your business and loan relationship grows, you will eventually work with a "personal" lender and then fully appreciate the benefits of having one.

Where can you get the best terms on a new loan? Often, it's the family bank, meaning Mom and Dad, your successful big brother or your great aunt Doris. You can usually get away with a low interest rate, or perhaps no interest at all. Trouble is, loans among family members touch on two areas about which the IRS is especially sensitive: gifts and interest income. To avoid a tax nightmare later, be sure to follow these rules.

If you're in the market for a small business loan, you'll need to understand the services the Small Business Administration (SBA) does -- and does not -- provide. SBA Overview Established in 1953, the SBA is an independent Agency of the Executive Branch of the Federal Government charged with the responsibility of providing four primary areas of assistance to American small business, which include: Advocacy, Management, Procurement, and Financial Assistance. Financial Assistance is delivered primarily through SBA's Investment Programs, Business Loan Programs, Disaster Loan Programs, and Bonding for Contractors. The SBA's Business Loan Program is one of its significant areas of financial assistance.

Wil Schroter has started nine companies -- some successful, others not. Over the years, the entrepreneur has developed a network of investors, software developers and others who might be able to help out with his businesses. He says friends and acquaintances began to come to him on a regular basis, asking him to put them in touch with advisers or job candidates he knows. "It dawned on me that there was no central Rolodex where anyone who's looking to start a company could come for information," says Mr. Schroter, 32.

When a married person embarks on an entrepreneurial endeavor, it's often the other spouse who's left holding up the family's finances. Take Kim and Ryan Woodings. After two years of marriage, the young couple from Boise, Idaho, were relatively prosperous. But things changed in June 2005 when they invested half their savings in MetaGeek LLC, a company started by Mr. Woodings. The Woodingses shelled out $12,000 in hopes of selling by year end 240 Wi-Spys, a hardware and software combo Mr. Woodings developed to help users detect radio waves that interfere with the performance of their computers. But demand was greater than expected. So Mr. Woodings, 31 years old, quit his job as a systems engineer less than a year later to devote himself to MetaGeek full time.

Recently I was asked by a family member to cosign a loan to consolidate her out-of-control debt. It wasn't the first time a family member has asked me for a financial favor, and it probably won't be the last. I refused. It wasn't easy -- turning down requests from the people I love is never easy -- but I knew it was the right thing to do. There are good reasons that friends and family members agree to cosign loans: A parent wants to help out a child by establishing a credit history; an older brother wants to help a younger sibling buy his first car; a friend hopes to give someone a leg up after a divorce.

Ideally, you never need to file a homeowners insurance claim. But if and when you do, that difficult process will be a lot easier if you avoid some common mistakes people make, said David Siesko, an insurance expert and founder of Siesko Partners, a consultant to companies on insurance issues. Many homeowners probably stash their policy in a desk drawer without ever reading the whole thing, but that's a mistake. Homeowners should check their policies to make sure they have the coverage they need and that they're getting it at a good value.