balances low. having a balance that represents 35% or more of your overall available credit limit on each card will actually hurt you. three, correct inaccuracies on your credit reports. fixing outdated or incorrect information is a quick way to give your scores a boost. four, don't close on used accounts. the length of time you've had credit is one of the factors considering when calculating your credit. and five, negotiate with your creditors or collection agencies. instead of skipping a handful of payments or defaulting on a loan, contact your lenders as soon as a problem arises and see if they can work with you to find a resolution within your financial means. there's more great advice about funding coming up on "your business." brad and kristian answer your questions. and it's back to school time as i return to stanford business school to find out what you need