Taking the Fear out of the Lending Process

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What an exciting time! You’ve made the plunge to promote yourself from “employee” to “entrepreneur.” The first step has been taken… now what? You know your startup will need funding, but the idea of preparing a loan proposal or business plan is even more frightening than step one. Sit back, relax, and let us help you through it.

What is your business experience?

This is your chance to make a stunning first impression. In this cover letter, clearly and briefly describe who you are, your past business experience, what the nature of your business is, and how the loan will be used. Then, describe the history and activity of your business in addition to your management team’s qualifications. These points prove to lenders that your business not only has strong leadership, but that said leadership also has the experience and understanding needed to nurture a business into success.

How much money do you need and why?

Money might be a “taboo” topic of discussion around the dinner table, but now’s not the time to be shy. In this section, state the amount of money your company needs, and how you calculated this amount. Follow that up with a clear and specific account of what the loan will be used to fund and why it is needed.

How will you repay this loan?

Although loan terms will be negotiated with your lender, this is your chance to tell him or her exactly what you want. Use this section to describe the interest rate and terms you hope to receive, and to clearly lay out how your cash flow will help you meet each repayment schedule. This leads us to the second form of repayment that is important to be addressed.

What if you’re unable to repay the loan?

While it’s not fun to think of your business dream taking a slower start than anticipated, it’s important to be prepared. Here, you will state and describe the collateral you’re willing to pledge in case your business can’t generate sufficient repayment.

How are your personal and business’ finances?

In this last section, it’s time to seal the deal. Here, you will make sure that any owner with 20% or more interest in the business has submit their (less than 90 day old) financial statements. Then, if you’re a growing business, your complete financial statement, including balance sheet, income statement, net worth and interim financial statement, for the last 3 years will be included. If you’re a new business, this is where you will illustrate your projected balance sheet and income statement.

At Arkansas Capital, we understand that starting and scaling your business can be frightening. That’s why we’re here, with our sixty years of expertise, to support you every step of the way.

Small Business Spark

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Congratulations! If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably well on your way to either starting or growing your dream business. The truth is; though, whether your business is big, small, booming or just puttering along, every entrepreneur experiences the inevitable lull. A period where you don’t have quite the same amount of “get up and go” as you did when the idea of starting your business was first born. When moments like these arise, it’s important to not dwell on it, but instead, to stay energized and motivated. We hope this list from entrepreneurs, who have been in your same position, helps revive you to push through to work for your dream.

  • “Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.” –Steve Jobs
  • “It is human nature, as we get older, to look for stability in our lives. But if you want to be a successful entrepreneur, you have to fight against that somewhat. Starting a business requires movement. You cannot stay still.” –Robert Herjavec
  • “If people like you, they will listen to you, but if they trust you, they’ll do business with you.” –Zig Ziglar
  • “A brilliant idea doesn’t guarantee a successful invention. Real magic comes from a brilliant idea combined with willpower, tenacity, and a willingness to make mistakes.” –Lori Greiner
  • “Don’t be afraid to give your best to seemingly small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.” –Dale Carnegie
  • “Negativity is a blood-sucking, poisonous, good-for-nothing weed that kills any creative spark you have in business and life. Keep an optimistic attitude no matter what.” –Barbara Corcoran
  • “Move out of your comfort zone. You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new.” –Brian Tracy
  • “If people haven’t laughed at your dreams, then you aren’t dreaming big enough. Just keep pushing forward!” –Daymond John
  • “It’s very easy to be different, but very difficult to be better.” –Jonathan Ive
  • “Whatever the problem, be part of the solution. Don’t just sit around raising questions and pointing out obstacles. We’ve all worked with that person. That person is a drag.” –Tina Fey
  • “Great entrepreneurs are not just passionate about their idea, but have enough passion to weather all the obstacles and see things through to the finish line.” –Barbara Corcoran

The Do’s and Don’ts of Perfecting Your Pitch

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In this world of instant gratification, making business connections has to be quick. That’s why now, more than ever, perfecting your elevator pitch should be at the top of your career “To Do” list. Use our list of Do’s and Don’ts to make a big impact in a small amount of time.

Be Brief & Don’t Ramble

It’s called an “elevator pitch” for a reason. Respect your audience’s time by keeping your pitch short and sweet— between 10-30 seconds— no more time than a ride from floor 1 to floor 9 would take.

Be Relatable- Not Robotic

It’s true that practice makes perfect (we encourage practicing too!), but remember that you’re talking to a real person. Lose the industry jargon and “keywords” that you sprinkle throughout your resume.

Keep it Conversational

This point is twofold. First, don’t ramble off your laundry list of what you can do and how your company would be a great fit to work alongside theirs. Remember this is intended to be a dialogue not a monologue.

Also keep it conversational in tone. Think about your pitch the way you’d tell your best friend about your dinner last night. You wouldn’t say, “The exquisite appetizers and rustic, yet chic, décor made for a charming evening.” You’d say, “I ordered cheese dip at dinner last night, and it was so delicious that I licked the bowl then ordered a second round.” See the difference?

Be Persuasive, but Humble

You’ve got a reason to be pitching. You clearly bring something to the table. Don’t be afraid to share about your skills, specialties and background! That being said, don’t overshare by reciting all of your awards and accreditations.

Always Be Ready

You never know when an opportunity might arise. Yes, it could be at your monthly networking meeting, but there’s a good chance it could also be in the check-out line at your local grocery store.

Don’t Forget Business Cards

Your elevator pitch is a conversation, not a close. The whole purpose of the interaction is to start a relationship with the person you’re speaking with, so don’t forget to leave them with contact information to remember you.

What’s Next in Growing Your Business

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You’ve successfully maneuvered those challenging early years, and now you might be thinking, “what’s next?” Perhaps you need additional staff or plan to build a new location. All these things require money.

When your business is experiencing growth, a slowdown in cash flow can negatively impact short and long term goals. How can a small business keep up with the demands as it slowly begins to transform into a mid-size company?

Before you begin to panic, Arkansas Capital may be able to help you. Depending on the course and maturity of your business, as well as how much debt you have on the books, you can consider a variety of loans.

Under SBA 504 loans, businesses can purchase real estate, new machinery and equipment, or make improvements like landscaping. Additionally, if you need to renovate your existing office or facility, these funds can help. 

The SBA does not lend the money directly to entrepreneurs to grow a business, but sets certain stipulations for loans made by its partners (like Arkansas Capital). The SBA helps to eliminate some of the risk to lenders by guaranteeing that these loans will be repaid.

Financing a growing business is a good problem to have. Remember, Arkansas Capital is a champion of small businesses and wants to help you thrive. For more information about all our loan programs, click here.

How To Write A Business Plan That Attracts Investors

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arkansas small business loans It’s amazing how quickly an idea can come to you, and mostly when you aren’t even trying. Whoever came up with the shower caddy was just taking a shower and needed more space for his Old Spice collection. You’re in an everyday situation, a need appears, and you have this brilliant lightbulb moment where you figure out a way to fill that need – and the first seed of a business plan is planted. But that seed needs to be nourished in order to grow. There’s research to do, kinks to be worked out, money and resources to procure, people that need convincing. The list can get overwhelming after that initial creative jolt your brain just offered you dies down. It’s important to stay motivated! And to create a business plan that will get you noticed. [Read more…]

5 Ways to Spring Clean Your Business

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arkansas small business Spring will be here in a matter of days, and the best way to embrace this sunny, green season is with some spring cleaning – and not just on your home. A little elbow grease can work wonders on your business as well! Here are a few ways you can dust off and freshen up your business so you can take on the rest of the year more organized and better prepared for whatever comes your way: [Read more…]

Why Arkansas is the Perfect Startup State

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Photo of city from innpartners.com
Photo of city from innpartners.com
When you think of startup hotbeds, Silicon Valley or New York typically comes to mind. While these cities have been profitable locations for the beginning of countless businesses, they’re also expensive and increasingly oversaturated. Alternatively, Arkansas offers ample investors, seasoned mentors and low business costs – which is bringing people from all over the world to take advantage of the amazing startup opportunity the state provides. Here are three reasons Arkansas calls out to entrepreneurial spirits and has become one of the nation’s startup communities to watch: [Read more…]