Make Your Business Loan-Worthy

Borrowed money is often the key to building and growing a successful small business. For independent business owners, however, courting lenders isn't always easy. This paper explains how to make a strong case and win over even the choosiest banks. "If you have a good business plan, you know what you're doing, you have enthusiasm for it, you have experience and you have some equity to contribute, the bank loves you - no matter what size you are," Borrowing is especially nerve-racking for the self-employed who lack partners and investors with which to share financial risk. For them, loans are equal parts obstacle and opportunity; overcoming the former in order to seize the latter is a matter of preparation, planning and persuasion.