Capital Feed

Business Loan Calculators are a great way to determine how much a business loan will cost your company as well as to ensure that the benefits (the added revenue or cost savings a business loans can provide) are worth the additional expense of the business loan.

Check out the business loan calculators go to Business Money Today.

Shortly after launching ROC Brewery in February 2010, we needed to start raising some capital. But when we approached angel investors and banks, we quickly discovered how hard it is to raise capital in today’s shaky economy.

What’s worse, a microbrewery in the heart of downtownRochesterisn’t exactly an easy sell when it comes to securing a loan. Many microbreweries go under within the first few years so not too many investors are eager to jump on board. Then we found out about Samuel Adams Brewing the American Dream.

Interesting and inspiring.  Innovative in business then use that innovation to find capital. Keep on reading at CNN Money.

So, can businesses still get business credit in today’s market? Yes. In my opinion, banks and other lenders want to lend to small businesses – you just have to give them a reason.

Not only can this help some of these lenders with their own revenue streams but it makes good, solid, feel good press that might help lighten up some of the feelings that businesses and individuals alike have about their financial institution.

But, the problems that created this credit (and ultimately business loan) lockdown by lenders of all types is still in play.

Economic growth is flat or slow. Consumer spending is flat or slow. Government regulation (especially regarding banks and similar lenders) is still overbearing. And, probably more important, banks have spent the last three or four years finding other ways to generate revenue besides underwriting loans (business and consumer).

On the other side, businesses seeking capital have pulled back as well. Many businesses that have survived had to do so with less outside help. Thus, they are lean and mean. This means that they have found ways to maintain their businesses without business credit (without the help of their bank or lender).

With crowdfunding not quite here, there are still other ways. Keep reading this interesting article at Business Money Today.

We want to start another series on Working Capital in small businesses. This series over the next few months will focus on better understanding small business working capital, how it works in your business, how it can propel or cripple your business and lastly, how your small company can finance your working capital needs.

Let’s begin by defining what working capital is:

According to David A. Duryee of Management Advisory Services* – working capital is simply the difference between current assets and current liabilities where current liabilities (like accounts payable, short-term notes and accrued expenses) are used to finance current assets (like accounts payables and inventory).

Now, that is the proper definition.

However, in your business it really breaks down as follows:

A new series on working capital for small businesses. To keep reading go to Business Money Today.

Traverse City State Bank is among the state lenders recognized by the U.S. Small Business Administration for making business loans.

The bank was named Community Lender of the Year for approving 46 SBA loans for more than $13 million. TCSB also was ranked among the SBA’s Top 10 2011 Lender of the Year rankings, placing seventh in the state.

“The program does work, and it is truly helping local businesses expand, diversify and grow their business,” TCSB President and CEO Connie Deneweth said.

Should be all SBA approved lenders.  The program is there – use it! Keep on reading at Record-Eagle.

A new private-public collaboration will help small businesses strengthen their revenue streams by gaining access to more than $300 billion in combined supply chain spending by a consortium of 15 of America’s largest corporations, the U.S. Small Business Administration announced today.

Supplier Connection, created by the IBM Foundation, is part of the Obama Administration’s American Supplier Initiative and is designed to help bridge the gap between small, nimble businesses looking for new opportunities and large corporations looking for innovative new ideas and diversity in their supply chains.

“The American Supplier Initiative is part of a comprehensive solution to grow small businesses, create jobs and to ensure thatAmericahas a strong, deep and diverse supply chain,” said SBA Administrator Karen Mills.  “While it is clear that becoming a corporate supplier can lead to business growth, breaking in can be a challenge for small businesses. The Supplier Connection will be one tool to help small businesses connect with corporate buyers. Tools like this help to ensure that more small businesses are part of commercial supply chains, which adds additional revenue streams. This is a proven formula for job creation.”

Love these public – private entities.  Check out the rest of the article at NRNewswire.

The credit-easing programme will initially see £20 billion made available to small businesses over the next two years under a National Loan Guarantee Scheme (NLGS) and an additional £1 billion to mid-sized firms under a Business Finance Partnership.

The Treasury aims to provide cheap funding to banks on condition that the lower cost of loans is passed on to smaller firms – but HSBC is thought to be reticent to sign up as it can already access financial markets at similar rates to the Government.

Nice program but HSBC must not like the government’s role in it. Keep on reading at This isGuernsey.

Find your business loan. A great place to start is at Business Money Today.

U.K. Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne will provide 40 billion pounds ($63.4 billion) in low-rate loans to small businesses, the Sunday Times reported, without saying where it got the information.

The plan, to be announced this week, will apply to firms with revenues of as much as 50 million pounds and use money diverted from the Bank of England’s quantitative easing facility, according to the newspaper. Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LLOY), Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc, Barclays Plc (BARC) and Banco Santander SA (SAN) have agreed to participate, the Sunday Times reported.

Englandis doing it for small businesses, The Philippines are doing it for their consumers and small businesses.  But, in theU.S.? To read more go to Bloomberg Businessweek.

I hear this day in and day out; “My bank turned down my business loan request, now what do I do?”

And, it is not just those talking to me personally but I see this same statement on forums and in discussion groups.

If your bank says no, then you just have to look at the many other business lenders that are out there.

Banks don’t necessarily look for ways to approve business loans; they look for ways not to approve them. Give them one excuse and it is over.

But, there are other lenders out there that want to make business loans – in fact, as that is all they do, they have to make business loans or close their doors. So, they actually look for ways to make these loans (read: they work with you – not against you).

Now, if you can get a business loan from a bank – then by all means. But, if your bank says no that does not mean your hunt is over.

Where do you go when your bank says no?  To find out, start reading this article at Business Money Today.