Know Your Numbers
I recently met with a client in the specialty food business. The company, in short time, gained product placement throughout the southeast in one of the largest grocers in the United States. However, her company is operating at a loss, and to make matters worse, her cash balance is dropping faster than her operating losses. […]
The Financials – Friend or Foe?
Daily at the SBDC (Small Business Development Center) we have the privilege of working with entrepreneurs from a broad range of industries. Although the industries may vary, many of the challenges entrepreneurs face are common, no matter what the industry. One such challenge we often see relates to numbers and financial statements. When it comes […]
Finding the Cash You Need for Your Business
Cash is the life blood of any business, large or small. Like an elite athlete requiring a gulp of oxygen to finish the drill, most businesses need outside sources of cash for top performance – to purchase equipment, enter new markets, or meet payroll. If you need cash to start or grow, what are the options? Equity investment is […]
LLC or Corporation: Which Legal Structure is Better for Your Business
When starting a business, choosing the best legal form is a serious matter. If you don’t want your personal assets to be at risk, your choices are between a Limited Liability Company (LLC) and a Corporation. Both entities provide the limited liability protection that you want. What other criteria should you examine before making that […]
The Power is in the Numbers
Today’s business owners expect higher productivity, greater efficiency, and better information from all their employees and professionals. And they should! After all, they need to find every competitive advantage that they can in order to grow market share and become more profitable. One of the key functional areas that business owners need to be experts […]
Credit Clean Up…A Critical Concern for Entrepreneurs
As entrepreneurs plan to fulfill their dreams of launching a business, they should be very attentive to all the steps required to ensure success. Those steps typically include developing a comprehensive business plan that can be submitted to lenders to secure funding for their new business. Imagine planning for a significant event and overlooking a […]
Sustainability in Small Business
Whether it’s due to the floundering economy, flat housing market, or time of year, it seems that more small businesses than usual are in financial distress. Let’s face it, entrepreneurship is risky, and many don’t survive past the three year mark. But some are not only surviving, but thriving. So, what’s their secret? Other than […]
Your Credit is Your Character
When it comes time for you to borrow money to start or expand your business, remember that bankers are risk averse. Their main interest is getting their loan repaid in a timely fashion. Lenders assess the risk factors of the loan through their evaluation of the borrower, using the 5 C’s of credit: collateral, cash, […]