Finance

General Strategies: Where the money comes from and how to apply it.
Raising Capital: Attracting investors and borrowing wisely.
Application of Funds: Gaining and maintaining appropriate usage.
Tactics: Winning tricks for the money game.
Record Keeping: Counting the beans.
Controls: Remaining sane, solvent and successful.

A Friendly Banker is Just a Small Bonus Nowadays

In today's banking systems a friendly banker only makes a loan negotiation more pleasant. Computers and costly training are some of the key factors changing the lending systems at most banks. This is improving the profitability of banks, but there are some pluses for small business loan applicants...

Don't Count the $$$, Count the Successes

How do you measure success? Success can be measured in different ways, not just in terms of $$$...

There's Cashflow in the Back Room

Many a retail operation is successful because there was cash flow being generated in the back room...

Good Times are Dangerous Times

An acquaintance said to her partner-husband, "If we could only run our business during good times as we do during bad, we'd have it made." Managers tend to reach illogical conclusions during periods of growth and prosperity...

Plan for Slow Steady Progress

Most businesses require progressive growth. Each type of business goes through this cycle at different rates...

Penny Here, Penny There Equals Two Pennies

Before we could nix an idea, I blurted out very old lame joke, "You save a penny here, a penny there and the first thing you know you have two pennies..."

Shop for Small Business Loans - Part 1

Shopping for small business loans is a wise action. Have you considered shopping for small business loans from your government?

Shop for Small Business Loans - Part 2

Shopping for a lender is important when trying to match your borrowing with the other facets of your business plan. It will open opportunities for obtaining competitive rates...

Working Capital need not be 100% cash

There are many sources of working capital, some of these sources may not be immediately obvious. Creative thinking can prevent the small business owner from running cap-in-hand to a money lender. Working capital need not be 100% cash...

Look for Local Private Lenders

Why search for local private lenders? Because local lenders may have other interests in addition to seeking a financial return on an investment...

You Are Seldom Alone When Financing a Business

Conditions is one of the 5 C's of credit. Conditions can refer to business and marketing environments and also contractual obligations in existing contracts...

Put Your Investment Where Your Mouth Is

Capital is one of the 5 C's of credit. Capital, in this case, refers to the borrower's investment in a proposed venture. Sometimes it may not be the amount of the investment as it is the proportion of the borrower's net worth...

Collateral Needs Easy Conversion to Cash

Collateral is one of the 5 C's of credit. Of all the five C's, Collateral is probably the C that causes people to say, "banks lend you money when you don't need it..."

Capacity is Credible Number Crunching

Capacity is one of the 5 C's of credit. Capacity refers to your ability and the capacity of your business to repay a loan. The evidence requires some number crunching showing the relationship between the revenue and the expenses of your proposed venture...

Exploit Competing Public and Commercial Lenders

In your continual search for financing it may be difficult to imagine that lenders have a constant challenge of dispensing their money...

Avoid Venture Capital Firms

Unless you are seeking large amounts of capital or you have a big idea that requires a big operation, you should resist the attractive invitations from venture capitalists...

Financing with Credit Cards Demands Great Care

When used with extreme caution, financing with credit cards IS an option for the small business owner...

Look for Lenders of Last Resort

Last resort lenders include government agencies established to encourage some business enterprises or private lenders willing to accept a high risk in return for a higher rate of return...

Match a Lender to Your Needs

It's important to match the source of financing with the rest of your business plan. Save time and money by applying for loans in the appropriate places...

Shopping for a Supportive Banker

A supportive banker is a person who, (a) has the authority and the attitude to help small business owners with obtaining loans, and (b) representing a bank with funds available for small business loans...

Interviewing a Prospective Banker or Loan Manager

More than a casual conversation, your interview with a prospective banker is a serious exchange of information. Plan, structure and rehearse how you will conduct the meeting...

Rent OR Buy Decisions

When acquiring real estate or equipment for your business operation, a decision must be made on whether to rent or buy. There are several factors to consider...

Reducing Debt is Better than Increasing Revenue

Good Advice? Depending on the situation reducing debt can be better than increasing revenue...

Build Your Profile at Your Bank

Character is one of the 5 C's of credit. Character is usually assessed from a lengthy track record of successes and failures. Often family or friends are used to predict potential character. What happens when you don't have these going for you?

Resist Paying for Audits

An audit is an exercise that costs a lot of money which could be spent on more productive activities. There are times when paying for an audit is unavoidable, however there are times when it can be avoided...

The Golden Rule

The Golden Rule: S/He who has the gold makes the rules...

Watch Your Share of Cash Fall on the Counter

Adopting this technique may be difficult for any person striving to be an honest upright business person, circumstances may influence your ethics...

Pick a Record System That Works For You

Financial record systems range from a box to a complete accounting department with computerized databases. Choose a system which best fits the scope of your small business...

Create Separate Accounts for Non-productive Activities

One of the simplest ways, for the busy small business owner, to track non-essential expenses is to name accounts for expenses which are not critical to the production or selling of goods...

You Can't Manage What You Can't Measure

For better management decisions, apply measuring to all your business functions...

Increase Your Scrutiny When Borrowing From Friends or Relatives

When we borrow from friends or relatives we tend to avoid formal agreements. We tend to assume too much. Borrowing from friends or relatives demands more, not less, diligence...

Look After the Pennies

The dollars will take care of themselves. Ancient and oft quoted advice, but how do we look after the pennies and control the dollars, when there are so many other pressures surrounding expenditure decisions...

Do a backup on each investment

Just as you backup newly purchased computer software you can apply the same concept to other purchases...

Check your motives

When making purchasing decisions it is important to check your motives...