Things To Do In SW Florida

You can use a business credit card for many purchases, and doing so can help your company stay on top of cash flow and earn rewards to boot.

“If you are starting a new business and you are generating business expenses, it’s a good time to get a business credit card,” says Raul Vasquez Hernandez, a senior business development officer at small-business lending nonprofit TruFund.

No matter what stage of growth your business is in, here’s how to get the most out of your card — without leaning on it too hard.

1. Accessing capital as a startup

New businesses typically don’t qualify for small-business loans; most lenders want to see a year or two of revenue history before approving your application. Business credit card requirements are less stringent, not necessarily requiring any revenue.

If you have a good or excellent personal credit score (typically a FICO score of 690 and above), you can probably open a business credit card right away. A 0% APR intro period offers you extra time to pay down your bill before you owe interest. read more

Chapter 11

Central Florida individuals and businesses that have filed for reorganization and protection from creditors under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code include:

TAG FL LLC, 13202 Triphammer Way, Orlando. Filed: Sept. 13. Assets: $1,500,000. Liabilities: $2,944,096. Major creditors: Tarek Aly, Gainesville, $2,100,000. Creditors meeting: Oct. 21.

Hawkers Intermediate LLC, 54 W. Church St., Suite 250, Orlando. Filed: Sept. 16. Assets: $10,000,001-$50 million. Liabilities: $10,000,001-$50 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Oct. 17.

Hawkers Topco LLC, 54 W. Church St., Suite 250, Orlando. Filed: Sept. 16. Assets: $10,000,001-$50 million. Liabilities: $10,000,001-$50 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Oct. 17.

Hawkers Growth Fund I LLC, 54 W. Church St., Suite 250, Orlando. Filed: Sept. 16. Assets: $10,000,001-$50 million. Liabilities: $10,000,001-$50 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Oct. 17.

Hawkers Growth Fund II LLC, 54 W. Church St., Suite 250, Orlando. Filed: Sept. 16. Assets: $10,000,001-$50 million. Liabilities: $10,000,001-$50 million. Major creditors: Not available. Creditors meeting: Oct. 17. read more

Q: My cousin is getting married and agreed to sell me her apartment for a great price. We drew up a contract so that I could get a mortgage loan, and I interviewed with the condo board. Now, the condo tells us that my cousin must sell it to another owner who already lives in the building. She is only selling it at a discount because we are family. Can the condo do this? — Sean

A: Yes, they can probably enforce this, but you may still have options.

Community associations are formed to help maintain the standard of living of their residents and the property value of their homes. Associations have many tools at their disposal to achieve these goals. For example, they can levy fines for violating the community rules and even foreclose and take a resident’s home under certain circumstances.

Most associations will require a buyer to be screened for fitness to live in the community and their ability to pay the dues. Some associations take it further and include a “right of first refusal” in their toolbox. read more

Katie Kelton | (TNS) Bankrate.com

If you’ve ever found a stray gift card in your car’s glove compartment or the recesses of your wallet, you’re in the company of more than 2 in 5 U.S. adults (43%) with an unused gift card, gift voucher or store credit.

Those unused gift cards add up — to $244 per person on average, according to a new survey by Bankrate. That card you found could be equivalent in value to a flight, nice pair of shoes or tablet.

Learn more about which Americans are most likely to have unused gift money and why they’re not cashing it in.

More than 2 in 5 Americans have at least one gift card, gift voucher or store credit they haven’t used. That’s 43% of Americans who have an unused gift card, compared to 52% who don’t and 6% who aren’t sure.

The average amount in unused gift cards, gift vouchers or store credit is $244 per person. That’s much higher than in 2023, when Americans had $187 in unused gift cards, gift vouchers or store credit.

More than 1 in 3 Americans have lost money with a gift card misstep. That’s 34% total, with overlap among 20% who let a gift card expire, 17% who lost a gift card and 12% who had a store go out of business before they used their gift card. read more

An orphaned Pacific walrus found on the beaches of northern Alaska is now living at SeaWorld Orlando, the theme park announced Wednesday.

The calf, estimated to be a few weeks old, was discovered by residents of Utqiagvik, Alaska, after a walrus herd had left the area.  She was transported to the Alaska SeaLife Center and treated for dehydration and malnourishment.  After rehabilitative care, she was determined to be non-releasable by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

She arrived at SeaWorld weighing about 220 pounds on Sept. 18.  The theme park was selected as her new home because of the staff’s experience with walruses and because of its walrus herd, which will help with development and includes a female walrus that may act as a surrogate mom.

The animal has been named Ukiaq — or Uki (pronounced “oo-kee”) for short. That translates to “autumn” in the language of the Inupiaq people.

SeaWorld Orlando visitors cannot see Uki — yet.

Europa Clipper exhibit set for Sea Life Orlando stop read more