Applying for a business loan can be an intimidating process, but if you’re prepared, you have a much greater chance of success.  Here’s a rundown of what bankers are looking for from you when you’re applying for a business loan.

“Growing broke” is, unfortunately, all too common in the world of small business. Although growth is good, unless the financial consequences are understood and strategically planned for, growth can destroy your business.

According to nearly all data measures, the U.S. economy is undergoing an economic slowdown, possibly a recession. The current slowdown is a normal part of the business cycle. Business cycles are evident throughout the history of recorded economic data.

A basic rule of thumb is that the most important goal of any small business is to keep gross margin constant.  Never sacrifice gross margin – ever! 

Although gross profit margin can be a very useful analytical tool, special care must be taken to distinguish between historical gross margin and forecasted gross margin, especially during periods of volatile prices and/or input costs. This distinction is especially important in the current economic environment of rapidly rising energy costs, transport expenses, and commodity prices.