Insights
Debt, equity & capital strategy
Capital decisions
What is DSCR? The debt service coverage ratio, explained for owners
DSCR is the first number most business lenders check. Learn how it's calculated, what lenders look for and how to improve yours before you apply.
Capital decisions
How long should you finance a business loan?
Shorter terms cost less interest; longer terms protect cash flow. How to choose a loan term based on what you're buying and your coverage.
Capital decisions
What goes in a bank package? A lender-ready checklist
Lenders move faster when your package answers their questions up front. Here's what a complete business loan package includes.
Capital decisions
Debt vs. equity financing: which fits your business?
Compare loan payments, ownership dilution, control and downside risk before funding growth or an acquisition.
Capital decisions
When should a business raise outside equity?
Equity fits uncertain, fast-growth bets better than steady cash-flow businesses. Signs equity makes sense — and alternatives to consider first.
Capital decisions
Ways to fund growth without selling ownership
Before you sell equity: working capital, faster collections, supplier terms, leasing, seller financing and the right kind of loan.
Capital decisions
How much debt can your cash flow afford?
From EBITDA to cash available for debt service: taxes, owner pay, capital spending and a cushion — then the loan size your numbers support.
Capital decisions
Term loan vs. business line of credit: when each fits
Term loans fund long-lived purchases; lines of credit cover timing gaps. How costs, renewals and risks compare.
Capital decisions
What Is an SBA Loan?
What an SBA loan is, how the government guarantee works, the main programs (7(a), 504, microloans) and how to estimate your payment before you apply.
Capital decisions
How to Qualify for an SBA Loan
SBA loan qualification explained: eligibility rules from sba.gov, what lenders check (cash flow, credit, equity, collateral) and a step-by-step prep list.
Capital decisions
How Long Does It Take to Get an SBA Loan?
SBA loan timelines stage by stage — preparation, underwriting, SBA approval, closing — what slows them down and how to plan your project dates around it.
Capital decisions
Can You Get an SBA Loan With Bad Credit?
Can you get an SBA loan with bad credit? What SBA rules actually say, how lenders weigh credit against cash flow, and practical steps to improve your odds.
Capital decisions
What Is an SBA 504 Loan?
The SBA 504 loan explained: how the lender, CDC and owner split a project, what it can finance, terms from sba.gov and a worked payment example.
Capital decisions
How to Calculate Debt Service Coverage Ratio
How to calculate debt service coverage ratio step by step, which add-backs lenders accept, what a good DSCR is and how to raise yours before you apply.
Capital decisions
How to Finance a Business Acquisition
How to finance a business acquisition: SBA 7(a), seller notes and equity, how lenders size the deal, plus a worked sources-and-uses example.