Commercial and industrial lending is increasing for larger
companies, but according to the Thompson Reuters/Pay Net Small-Business Lending
Index, the number of traditional bank loans to small businesses has fluctuated
wildly over the past year.
And, let's face it, small-business owners remain uncertain
about what 2013 holds for their business and the economy. In fact, in its
latest report the National Federation of Independent Business confirms that
small-business optimism remains relatively low.
"The good news is banks want to make
Small
Business Loans. It's just that many banks are not able to properly scale
their resources to include all deserving borrowers, even if small-business
owners do meet the stringent standards set by lenders," says James Walter,
founder and CEO of BBC Easy, a provider of automated loan management software
for financial institutions. "The fact is many banks are using outdated
technology, so the more organized you can be, the more quickly you can be
approved."
If your business needs credit to grow or a temporary
infusion of cash, receiving a loan may be difficult in our still-recovering
economy. There are important variables in play when banks evaluate your
creditworthiness. Walter and BBC Easy's co-founder, Corey Ross, offer these
tips to increase your chances of securing a loan.
1. Get your financial
house (and documentation) in order.
Typically, a business needs to have been profitable for the
past three years in order to qualify for a bank or SBA loan. Since most lenders
will look closely at your credit history prior to making a decision, keep an
eye on your credit score and anything in your credit report that might be a red
flag.
Remember, most banks will require that you personally
guarantee the loan, but if you have sufficient collateral within your business
to cover the loan principal, they shouldn't require a lien on your home.
2. Tell your
company's story.
"In my prior experience as the co-founder of a lending
company, one of the most basic errors made by loan applicants was not telling
me why their company needs the money. And they wouldn't reveal why we should
approve the loan even though their company doesn't meet our minimum
standards," says Walter.
Is your industry experiencing growth? Are you scheduled to
partner with a major retailer? What's your story?
"Don't just say you want a loan, turn in your
documentation, and expect the loan officer to rubber-stamp your request,"
adds Walter. "Fine-tune your business pitch to include your future
prospects--not just highlight past successes."
3. Go local.
A national bank is less likely to hear you out if your
business hasn't been profitable for the last three years. It is also likely
that your company will be passed over if you are lacking sufficient collateral
to secure a loan.
"Visit a community bank and also inquire about SBA loan
programs," suggests Ross. "Since up to 80 percent of a business loan
can be guaranteed by the government under the SBA program, some banks may be
more lenient. The downside to this route, of course, is the lengthy paperwork
and delay in securing financing due to bureaucracy."
4. Look at
alternative financing for short-term needs.
Alternative financing is on the rise as historically
profitable or growth-stage companies face shortfalls in cash flow.
"Asset-based lending and factoring are good bridge
financing avenues for many small businesses," says Ross.
With factoring, a company sells its accounts receivable to
receive a short-term loan of up to 80 percent of its value. Asset-based lending
is more comparable to the traditional loan process, where a lender will
evaluate accounts receivable, inventory values, and fixed assets to determine
creditworthiness, and issue a line of credit. If you don't qualify for
traditional bank financing, look at these alternatives, but expect interest
rates on these types of loans to be at least double what you'd pay for a
traditional loan.
Related Post: How to Get Small Business Start up Loans