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What Bankers Look For And Why
There is a plethora of commercial loan products for businesses, small and large. While each may have their own terms and conditions, all lenders ‘first’ must be confident in the borrower’s ability and willingness to repay the loan.
Business Card ABCs
Many people overlook the value of having a professional business card that accurately reflects your brand image…yet this small piece of paper can be an important part of your collateral package. It often is the first item prospects receive from you, so it your first opportunity to make a strong, positive impression on them. The preponderance of do-it-yourself online business card printing companies is an interesting and somewhat troubling phenomenon. With limited exceptions, it is fairly easy to spot an inexpensively produced card. When you choose to “go cheap” on your business cards, what message does that send to those with whom you wish to do business? Are you really doing yourself any favors by missing out on the opportunity to start building a positive brand image right from the start?

Top 5 Biz Card Blunders (& How to Avoid Them)
Perhaps nothing is more important to making a good first branding impression than your business card. In addition to the information on your card, its look and feel also send a message about your business– in fact, a card’s look and feel send a stronger message. That’s why I’m perplexed by the many poorly designed business cards I see these days. Sure, one can log on to various websites and “design” and print cards for free. But that doesn’t mean one should.
Brand Aid: The Basics of Branding
Branding is one of the most important aspects of any business, large or small, retail or B2B. An effective brand strategy gives you a major edge in increasingly competitive markets. But what exactly does “branding” mean? How does it affect a small business like yours?
Branding Trends: Delivery Channels Take Forefront
In looking at current branding trends, and what might be around the corner in 2007, what strikes me most are not the tactics being used, but the mediums being called on to disseminate the messages. Marketers can no longer rely on traditional outlets such as TV, radio and print ads to “get the job done”; they must take into consideration all the new media at their disposal, including blogs, podcasting, mobile phone-based programming, social networks, and RSS feeds.
You, Inc. What it Takes to Build a Personal Brand
It’s a brand new work-world. And I do mean “brand.” It used to be that only businesses worried about branding. To thrive, they worked diligently to distinguish their company from the competition. This meant carving out a niche based on competitive advantages and specific corporate attributes. In other words, they crafted and maintained a strategic brand – a unique, useful promise to current and prospective customers to gain brand equity and loyalty. This was business, after all.
Key Ways to Convey Quality
Let’s say that what differentiates your product or service from the competition’s is quality. It may seem like advertising “quality” would be a breeze, right? Unfortunately, it’s not. Customers hear the word “quality” all the time –often from companies selling low-quality products. In this sense, quality is like trust. If a salesperson resorts to “You can trust me,” it’s often an indicator to beware. Accordingly, if a company is too direct in how it advertises “quality,” customers may ignore the claim or be suspicious of it. So how can you prove that your product or service is the real deal? Following are some often-overlooked ways to convey quality.

Changing ‘Business as Usual’: The Body Shop Becomes a Success
For the first three years of their marriage, Roddick and her husband were content running their restaurant and eight-room hotel. She dealt with the customers while he took care of the behind-the-scenes management. However, after three years, the pair found themselves overworked and separated from their children. They decided to sell their restaurant and embark on their own pursuits.

Lesson #1: Make Your Critics Eat Their Words
“The greatest failure is not to try,” says Fields. “Had I listened to all the people during the course of my life who said, “You can’t. You’ll fail. It won’t work. You don’t have…,” I wouldn’t be here today.”

Interview of Mohammad Yunus of Grameen Bank
I found this interview of Mohammad Yunus of Grameen Bank. His idea to provide “micro loans” to poor people to jumpstart their entrepreneurship truly is changing the world. In fact, Yunus won the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize for his work.
You Can Get a Loan- Meet the Five C’s of Credit
Building a relationship with your lender is as important as meeting the five C's of lending. Knowing the five C's of credit will get you prepared for the loan process. Take a look.
How to fill your pipeline pre- and post-sale? Thought leadership is the answer
Filling the sales pipeline is one of the most talked about aspects of marketing and sales. In this article I challenge conventional thinking about how to fill the pipeline and advocate that in fact thought leaderhip is one of the most effective ways to do so.
Business funding sources for today's business owner...
Yes and no. Yes if you have a strong personal credit score. No if you are typically under a personal fico score of 720. The banking industry has significantly tightened the credit requirements recently in the last 12 months. If you do maintain a strong credit score then you are in luck.

Less is More
The web and digital marketing has given us the chance to deliver more content than ever before. Content that our audience can use to get to know us, our products and our value. That's great news. At least it should be. The problem? We overwhelm our audience, giving them too many options, too many different aspects and angles - and we lose them. We just plain drown them in too much information.
Real Estate Backed Financing
Many private investors or alternative lenders will issue financing without any security or collateral, justified through risk mitigation of higher interest rates. However, collateral is not ruled out altogether in alternative financing. On the contrary, many alternative financing options include collateral to strengthen the deal and increase the loan amount. Real estate backed loans are among the greatest in volume and figures, having real estate to use as collateral has many advantages and its own set of limitations.
A Credit Catch-22: When lenders and lawmakers disconnect
I operate a small business marketplace that connects entrepreneurs to financing options. Recent legislation has created an impression that the credit markets are softening and business loans are growing on trees. Not so fast - what's really going on down on mainstreet? Here's a story from today's local credit markets.

Faith in Marketing?
Having faith to continue your marketing through a down economy.
Free Money to Pay Your Bills? Not Quite
Looking for free money? Government grants? The silver bullet to get your business launched? Find out if the mythical pile of money is just waiting for you to claim it...right after your buy this book.
Is Your Business Tough Enough to Survive Recession?
The economy is playing havoc with a lot of businesses, but many small businesses are thriving despite the recession. Ask yourself these ten questions and make your business tough enough to survive recession.
As the Banks are tightening lending, Seller financing may be a great option to finance a business acquisition.
Since the start of the financial crisis last year, banks have stopped extending credit for virtually any loans including SBA type loans. It is very difficult for business buyers to get approved for financing, even buyers who have excellent credit, money down and collateral, which are the three major requirements. Of course this environment won’t last, but in the mean time there is a solution for both buyers and sellers and that is Seller Financing.
Investors in your business - are they the best solution for your funding problems?
You've got your business; you now need the money to fund its startup or expansion. Where do you go to and what are the expectations you must meet? Have you thought of using investors? We'll show you what to expect and the best way to make them interested in you.
Entrepreneurs – Looking For Investors In Your Business – Here’s Where To Find Them
You’ve got the great business idea, you are all set to start your new business – all you need now is some finance. So where do you find those elusive investors – or better still some no strings money?
Bank Managers - So Necessary for your Business But....
Meeting with your bank to ask for a loan for your business is always going to be a challenge even if you have a profitable business. Here’s a few ideas for you.
Securities Based Lending
An Alternative Source of Funding
Sales Productivity is All About Outcomes (so why focus on inputs?)
Selling business-to-business is all about outcomes (sell enough, and your commission will increase). Yet many companies looking to improve their results focus, today, on improving their inputs. B2B sales productivity requires a focus from beginning to end on outcomes. Sales efforts aren't productive if they don't yield sales and get prospects to progress towards sales. Proof of sales is dead easy. Proof of the latter is much harder. It's commonly based on what Rep have done and their impressions of their prospects' interests. Give Reps better, more precise, data on their prospects' interests, and help Reps (using this data) invest their efforts wisely, and their productivity will improve. Sales cycles will shrink. We've proven it.

A Step-By-Step Guide to Applying for a Small Business Bank Loan
Applying for a small business loan at the bank can certainly seem intimidating. This is especially true if you are unfamiliar with the requirements and technicalities of the loan review process or if you are dealing with issues that may compromise your approval, such as bad credit. Here is a brief guide that will take you step-by-step through the general application process for a small business bank loan including a few tips on how to secure the bank's financing.

YOU CAN LEAD A HORSE TO WATER BUT YOU CANT MAKE HIM SELL OR CAN YOU
By Mike Schultz and John Doerr Recently, we presented to a group of firm leaders across a range of service areas on how to sell professional services. During the Q & A session, one leader of an engineering firm asked, “This is all great stuff, but how do you get them (my engineers) to sell? I mean, I have tried everything, but they still would rather do just about anything but sell.” Well, short of walking around with a large stick and a menacing attitude, we suggest you will inspire more of the professionals in your firm to sell by helping them get into the right frame of mind to become a rainmaker. It is not just a question of telling them to go out and sell; you need to take care of the following six areas to get the activity you want.

Don't give your customers what you want
Here's something that successful franchise concepts know that you may not. You don't get rich in the restaurant game by giving people what you think is great. There's more important things than "your idea of great" to consider if you want to build a business people will stand in line to enter. Read more about them in this article.
No More Wrong Steps How to Make the Most of Each Step You Take for Your Business
My first call with a new branding client, Janie, a down-to-earth realtor from Atlanta, GA, began like hundreds before, with Janie saying, “After spending 18 months and $12,300 on designing my logo, collateral, and website, I’m not any where close to communicating my business the way I want to. I’m afraid all my decisions to this point have been wrong and I’m afraid to make anymore.”

USE LETTERS OF CREDIT (L/Cs) TO GET FINANCING
How to use letters of credit in international trade deals
Sage Wisdom About Borrowing Money For Your Small Business
"Use your credit. Your cash is always good." Sage advice about borrowing money for your small business.
Group Mobilisation: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Another issue arising in the discussion of targeting clients is that of group dynamics and mobilisation. One of the other features of micro-credit for the poor is the alternatives developed to collateral, namely group guarantees.
Savings Mobilisation: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
One of the more common requirements of most MFIs is to encourage savings amongst the clients so that they develop an attitude of savings first and borrowing on that amount, and also to empower them, in the long term, to be independent of borrowing from external sources.
Grameen Bank - Alternative Microfinance Approaches
Grameen Bank operates on the premise that the poor remain poor not because they do not have the skills or do not work hard, but because the institutions created around them keep them poor.

Other collateral Related Articles

Group Mobilisation: Tenets of Micro-credit for Poverty Reduction
Another issue arising in the discussion of targeting clients is that of group dynamics and mobilisation. One of the other features of micro-credit for the poor is the alternatives developed to collateral, namely group guarantees.
Success: The Collaborative Win
For some people, success is everything. Winning at all costs is the name of the game. Collateral damage is calculated. If someone is hurt in the process it’s unfortunate, but that’s the way it is. You will hear leaders say things like, “You are either with me or against me.” There is no middle ground. Some people call these leaders good business people. Others call them short sighted. Loyal followers abandon ship when it is clear the collateral damage includes them or when their personal values and integrity collide with business practices as usual. Is there a better way? This article looks at success from a collaborative perspective where winning strikes an effective balance between how work is done and the people who acieve it.

Need a Bank Line of Credit Use a Bank Guarantee BG Program
A bank line of credit is a flexible lending option that can bend to fit the needs of virtually any individual or business. Banks tend to specialize in extending lines of credit, however these are usually home equity lines of credit. This means in order to qualify, an applicant must show some from of guarantee collateral, but also sufficient. Subsequently, this BG is also a form of collateral, and the loan becomes secured on the BG.
The Sum of the Whole: Part I
Did you know that your marketing materials talk about you behind your back? In the business world our reputations mean the world to us and part of that is how we are perceived by the outside world. What does your visual identity (logo, stationery, collateral etc.) say about you and your business? Learn insider tips on how to tap into the power of marketing and graphic design to create more professional collateral materials to represent your business properly and to help your business be more memorable.
Real Estate Backed Financing
Many private investors or alternative lenders will issue financing without any security or collateral, justified through risk mitigation of higher interest rates. However, collateral is not ruled out altogether in alternative financing. On the contrary, many alternative financing options include collateral to strengthen the deal and increase the loan amount. Real estate backed loans are among the greatest in volume and figures, having real estate to use as collateral has many advantages and its own set of limitations.
How Can Working Capital Financing Help You and Your Business?
There are many different options from the traditional loan through the bank to a Small Business Cash Advance. If you have paid cash for equipment but now need that cash back, you may also qualify for a Sale Leaseback. You may even obtain a Collateral Loan for your Working Capital Financing needs if you have the collateral.
Collateral Loans
Collateral Loans, what are they? A collateral loan is simply borrowing money, while pledging something that you already own as collateral.
Top Three Mistakes Made in Selecting Referral Partners
There are thousands of dollars invested every year in creating a compelling brand. Once created, well designed pieces of collateral hit the streets through different venues; email newsletters, direct mail, blogs and videos. All important strategies and tactics for generating qualified opportunities.
Financing Your Business Without A Business Loan
No interest payments, no credit checks, no collateral and no income verification business loans. Financing your business might not be as hard as you think. Invest in yourself.
Are ABL Business Collateral Loans The Future Of Canadian Financing – Why An Asset Based Loan Works
Information on ABL business collateral loans . Why an asset based loan and revolving line of credit is changing the the landscape of operating credit financing in Canada.
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