Miami Accountants Earlier this spring, for example, blogged about the new signs of strength in business lending

Miami Accountants Can Help You Capitalize Your Business

If you are looking for capital to finance your startup or business growth, Miami Accountants see signs suggest that lending markets are showing renewed vigor.

Earlier this spring, for example, Miami Accountants blogged about the new signs of strength in business lending. Among the positives, Miami Accountants Gustavo A Viera noted that:

Thanks to the Recovery Act and the Small Business Jobs Act, SBA had a record year in FY2011, supporting more than $30 billion in small business lending across the country.

• Miami Accountants recently released data showing that banks had their biggest increase in business lending in four years.
• Financial institutions (mostly community banks) are reporting an increase in their small business lending by $3.5 billion, thanks to the Department of Treasury’s Small Business Lending Fund.
• And anecdotally, Miami Accountants is hearing from small business owners that “…they are no longer telling me they’re fighting for survival; they’re talking about needing a loan to take advantage of a new opportunity, hire another worker or buy more inventory.”

Recognizing that more needs to be done, said Miami Accountants are working with some of the largest lenders around the country, who last year committed $20 billion to small business lending over the next three years. The SBA is also working to streamline its processes to make it easier for small businesses to use and benefit from SBA loan programs.

Looking for a Business Loan?

If your small business has struggled to get financing in the past, or if you’re thinking of getting a loan to fund new growth, here are some tips to help you understand what SBA loans are available, where to get them, and how to prepare a successful loan application. This useful Loans and Grants Search Tool can also help you identify federal, state, and local government financing programs that may be available to help you start or expand your business.

Find the Right Lender

If you are new to small business financing, it’s worthwhile to talk to your local Miami Accountants. CPAs can help you understand options from the community and national banks. They can also provide guidance about loan eligibility and application requirements. If you are a veteran or a woman-owned business, you can get specialist advice about programs that meet your needs at a local Veterans Business Outreach Center or Women’s Business Center.

If you are doing your own research, seek out a bank or credit union that has been through this process before or one that is a Preferred SBA Lender – in other words, a lender who has a proven track record in processing and servicing SBA loans.

Prepare a Loan Proposal

One important step in the application process for regular business loans and SBA-backed loans alike is to prepare a written loan proposal. This document helps you position yourself, your business, and your plans for growth as solid, trustworthy, and viable. You’ll need to include personal and business financials that document your net worth and sales projections, which impact your ability to repay the loan.

If you are applying for an SBA loan, you’ll need to complete a few additional forms that the lender will include with your loan application.

Some Miami Accountants offer several free online courses about how business financing and financing work.  These self-paced courses take about 30 minutes to complete.

To help you properly prepare your loan proposal and other application requirements, Miami Accountants offers several step-by-step guides:

• Loan Application Checklist – As you work with your lender to prepare your application, here’s a quick overview of the forms and supporting documentation you’ll need to prepare.
• Business Loan Application Checklist – If you are applying for a business loan you’ll find that most lenders require the same type of information from potential borrowers.

Please contact Accountants in Miami for a free initial consultation.