Beginning with nothing more than a dream, entrepreneurs need to marshal their imagination, drive and
ambition in order to launch their new business. However, to survive and even to thrive they need all the
help they can muster to weather the storms they will need to survive. Every new entrepreneur will see
their next egg dwindle while their credit card balances reach almost unsustainable levels. There’s a
reason most small businesses close in failure within their first two years.
• Banks WILL NOT lend to start-ups or to any business with less than two years of verifiable
operations and at least six months of profitability. (Banks will loan to customers with solid
financial resources and credit histories, but it will be a personal loan, not a true business loan.)
• Sooner or later, most new business owners will exhaust their reserves. And not just their
resources, but those of their friends and family as well.
Building a good business credit history needs to be a goal of every new business:
a) First two (2) years – Totally dependent on owners, credit cards, and friends and family.
b) Year 3 and beyond - Low-cost financing programs might be offered by banks and finance
companies but only if you qualify. If you don’t qualify and sales and profits aren’t growing, then
you might as well close your doors and go get a job with someone else.
If you have a new business (or even just plan to start one), at the top of your “to-do” list should be a
detailed plan to build your business credit. Most new entrepreneurs let it slide; they are just too busy
managing a long list of “here and now” priorities that simply can’t wait. However, the potential rewards of
building your business credit profile can’t be overstated. Unfortunately, rewards won’t accrue until later.