Real Small Business: Money Matters

Your Company's Credit

From the Editors of Real Small Business

More than one aspiring filmmaker tells the story of completing a first film project with a little gumption and a maxed-out credit card. Believe it or not, starting a business isn't much different. Small business owners rely on credit, both for getting their businesses off the ground and for keeping them afloat -- though most entrepreneurs will tap more resources than a single piece of plastic.

You might find yourself in need of credit to receive goods from purveyors, finance product development, or fund ongoing business operations. Whatever your company's reason, there are more sources for small business credit than you might realize. One the biggest is the federal government: every year, the Small Business Administration makes more than one hundred million dollars in small business loans available. You can approach the SBA directly, or tap these funds through commercial banks. There are also sources of credit available for specific industries or demographics, such as businesses in the agricultural sector, or women or minority entrepreneurs.

Your company's credit also provides an important hidden benefit. Your creditors have a stake in your success. These creditors are allies who will work with you as you navigate the small business challenge, whether it's a fresh produce purveyor providing vegetables to your restaurant or a bank providing you with a line of credit to finance your high-tech R&D. But like that filmmaker with a credit card, the gumption is yours alone.

Check out the following features for more information about small-business credit:

• Meet Michael Dorf, owner of The Knitting Factory club, who talks about the effort he's gone to in order to clean up his credit after operating for years as a sole proprietor who didn't always pay his bills on time. Click on your preferred video format in the 'Watch the Video' area on the right.
  
  
• Access articles on how to protect and improve your business credit rating, how to read a business credit report, and credit terms at a glance.
  
  
• Find out E. James Burton's answer to the question, "I'm behind with some of my vendors and I'm afraid it will affect my credit rating. What can I do to improve my standing with them?"
  
  
• Read a profile of Don Bober, director of data initiatives and strategic projects for Experian Business Information Solutions.

We talk about Your Company's Credit with Michael Dorf of The Knitting Factory.