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

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

Although small business, economic stimulus lending is being widely criticized, $5,000 to $25,000 is available to you if you have a reasonable credit score and meet basic underwriting criteria.

CIT has been a stalwart lender for small businesses. But there are alternatives if you look for them.