Borrowing Money

Crowdfunding, a Burgeoning Phenomenon to Raise Money for Some Enterprises and Nonprofits

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.17.2012

Jerry Chautin

Kiki Karpus invests in start-ups and emerging businesses -- well, sort of. Instead of choosing the companies based upon the likelihood of their succes...

Don't Abolish SBA; Mills Says Her Agency Is Faster, Quicker, Better

Jerry Chautin | Posted 04.12.2012

Jerry Chautin

Some legislative ideologues and conservative groups would rather abolish the SBA than spend taxpayers' money to boost its small business loan-guarantee programs.

When it Comes to Finances, Put Yourself First

Suzanna de Baca | Posted 05.01.2012

Suzanna de Baca

When it comes to finances it's best to take the airplane oxygen mask approach -- secure your own before helping others.

Commercial Mortgage Bankers Are Doing Deals As the Real Estate Market Breathes New Signs of Life

Jerry Chautin | Posted 04.02.2012

Jerry Chautin

Rental apartments are back in demand, financing for hotels and motels is loosening up a bit and investors are stepping off the sidelines with wads of cash to do deals.

HARP Is Harping on the Wrong Solution and Bilking Taxpayers

Jerry Chautin | Posted 01.29.2012

Jerry Chautin

The revised HARP program will help a few homeowners and investors at taxpayers' expense. It will release refinancing lenders from liability. And most disappointing, it may have no discernible effect on improving our economy.

How To Arrange Family Loans

The New Old Age | Posted 01.15.2012

A family that contacted me recently has had numerous disagreements about their mother's small estate, but the most contentious issue is what to do abo...

SBA is Making Lines of Credit More Available --- Maybe

Jerry Chautin | Posted 01.11.2012

Jerry Chautin

To provide the much-needed liquidity, the U. S. Small Business Administration is revising its CAPLine program to make lines of credit more acceptable to lenders and more available to small-business owners. However, banks would rather make conventional LOCs rather than hassle with some of the SBA's requirements.

Lender "Screws Up," Others Can Learn From Its Mistakes

Jerry Chautin | Posted 10.17.2011

Jerry Chautin

Every bank has its own sweet spot for small-business loans and will look at your application somewhat differently. Find the right one and form a business relationship before applying.

U.S. Consumer Credit Rose By $5 Billion In May

Posted 09.07.2011

WASHINGTON (Glenn Somerville) - U.S. consumer credit rose by another $5.08 billion in May, according to a Federal Reserve report on Friday that su...

Entrepreneurs Are Stopped Cold for Lack of "Skin in the Game"

Jerry Chautin | Posted 06.18.2011

Jerry Chautin

Passion and a great idea are not enough to start a business. In my last two columns, I wrote that you must demonstrate enough predictable cash flow an...

How To Get A Small Business Bank Loan: The Five Cs

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Capacity, capital, collateral, credit, and character are the "Five Cs" that loan offers learn in Lending 101. But to most small-business loan applicants in need of money, it is an esoteric and arduous exercise.

Obama's Job Creation Plan and Business Growth Coincide at Exporting

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

You can increase your revenues by selling products and services overseas, even if you've never done it before. Moreover, exporting creates jobs in America. That is why Obama wants the federal government to help you get started.

Brokers Are Blamed for Loan Failures

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Lenders, brokers and borrowers beware. The Small Business Administration's Inspector General is looking for errors made during the origination, closing and servicing procedures.

SBA's New Web Site Is a Clunker

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

The U.S. Small Business Administration has a cadre of talented staff whose goal is to help small-business owners succeed. Yet, if there was ever a way to tell someone to not go into business, their newly redesigned website is it.

Mortgage Banker's Forecast: More Regulation Will Cost Consumers and Taxpayers

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Washington, D. C. is hot, but the rest of the nation is not when comparing our unemployment rates to the nation's capitol. "The largest over-the-month...

Real Estate and Business Concerns Are Front and Center at the MBA

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Near term, economists tell us that less homebuyers and more apartment renters are in our future. Yet, the Mortgage Bankers Association reports that ...

New Refinancing Program May Help Stem a Pending Foreclosure Disaster

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Pundits say that $350 billion of commercial mortgage loans are coming due for payoff. The balances still owed are so high that many borrowers will be unable to refinance conventionally.

Franchising Is an Alternative to Unemployment if You Can Get Start-Up Financing

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Self-employment is an alternative to unemployment. Yet, determining what kind of business to start, knowing how much money you will need, and what steps to take can be daunting

$30 Billion Is Being Allocated to Boost Small-Business Lending

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Big banks prefer making multimillion-dollar loans to large corporations instead of small-businesses because the fee income is greater and it allows them to hire experts in industries that they want to target.

Getting Financing Depends Upon the Strength of Your Executive Summary

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Your mission is to foster a trustworthy-enough friendship with the loan officer so that he will agree to show you what the bank's memorandum looks like.

Your Money Search Begins With a Persuasive Cover Letter

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Even though the cover letter is rarely thought of as a business-plan document, it begins the process of selling your concept to the loan officer and finance committee.

Uniquely Crafted Business Plans Are Needed to Raise Capital

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Now is the time to think about dusting off your old business plan as the economy improves. A business plan is required to obtain a loan or venture capital. It is uniquely designed as a sales tool to get financing.

SBA Lending Tanks While Business-Loan Applications Proliferate at Sam's Club

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

Amidst the foreboding headlines, there is a not-so-noticeable success story for small-business borrowers. SBA's Community Express Program continues to chug along at a brisk pace.

Let's Dump The Rating Agencies

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.25.2011

Jerry Chautin

The time has come to recognize that rating agencies are research firms, and they are not deities endowed with inalienable rights to dictate the quality of investments.

A Small-Business Bank with National Impact Has Died

Jerry Chautin | Posted 05.26.2011

Jerry Chautin

I lost a friend last week. Innovative Bank of Oakland, Calif. is kaput. Just like with other bank failures, the regulators swooped down on the floundering bank after the stock market closed on Friday.