Pat Gage Reveals the Real Key to Business Funding Success at a Metro Detroit, Michigan Event

A formula emerges that systematically and predictably puts unlimited capital into your pocket

Detroit, MI — Many real estate investors and business owners are suffering in today’s economy. Some are closing down, others face bankruptcy, because they do not know how to get the capital needed to operate or expand their business. They spend time and money on application fees, phone calls, letters, etc… and just end up frustrated and closer to being broke.

Pat Gage, the Opportunity Creator, went through this too; he nearly went bankrupt, spinning his wheels to obtain the financing needed to run his business. He attended seminars and purchased materials from others who were successful. He networked with others to learn how they managed to finance their business ventures. Through this experience, Pat stumbled upon several key answers, from which he developed his own program. Now he has all the financing he needs, and much more. “Investing in businesses in one way lending institutions make their living, so they want to make loans. They’re calling me, eagerly offering to finance my business,” says Gage.

Pat Gage was the featured speaker at the Mega Evening Event, in Livonia, where he shared his secrets and tips for obtaining business lines of credit and unsecured loans. He explained how to properly set up a business and the importance of keeping it separate from one’s personal assets. Even the naming of a business can create red flags as Pat explained.

The program Pat introduced incorporates the tools needed for setting up a corporation correctly, knowing all the business and licensing requirements, understanding the IRS requirements, setting up a Dun and Bradstreet business credit profile, creating the business vendor or trade credit accounts, acquiring unlimited unsecured business credit cards, transferring balances to improve a credit profile, understanding and using leasing credit, and obtaining unlimited unsecured business lines of credit, and learning how to lay the groundwork for future requests—getting more capital than anyone could even imagine for their business.

Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com/

Pat Gage-Nationwide-Business Lines of Credit

So there you are – you’ve done all your research, scoped out the competition, found your marketing niche, and spent countless hours planning precisely how you’re going to open, then operate your business.
It looks like a slam-dunk, except for one tiny problem – you need a bunch of cash to turn your dream into reality. Sure, you’re willing to put in as much as you can as far as time and effort. Maybe you can hit up your rich Aunt Gertrude for a few bucks. But, you still may need additional cash to get your business up-and-running.
What to do, and where to go to do it? Starting a business cash-poor is the quickest way of having that business cash you out – right on your ear. That will make neither you, nor Aunt Gertrude, very happy. So, you put on your, I-Need-A-Business-Line-Of-Credit hat and do a little thinking. Voila! The light goes on and blinks the word “Bank”. Halleluiah! Let’s open the doors and get this business rolling!
Or not. Stopping in to see your friendly neighborhood banker for a business line of credit takes a little more than shinned shoes, and an honest, open smile. That might have cut it with Aunt Gertrude, but your Business Loan Officer will be a bit more demanding. The Business Loan Officer is going to want to have a serious discussion about your business credit profile. This will help him decide your creditworthiness as a business. And that, not incidentally, is going to bring up the question of how you create one in the first place!
First, it’s essential that you separate your personal credit from your business credit. Reason? Personal credit is for your household expenses and business credit is to start, or expand your business. Your business will need more money than your household. If you use your personal credit to fund your business you could seem overextended to the banks and could be declined for any personal household credit needs, such as a new house or car.
How do you do this? Actually it’s simple. All you need to do is incorporate your business. There are several different entities to choose from, C or S-Corporation, or LLC (Limited Liability Company). That makes your business a self-sustaining entity, and takes away any personal liability.
. Next, Uncle Sam is going to require that your business have a Federal EIN, which is like the social security number for your business. Then, a separate bank account under the business’ name is required. And of course, you’ll need to comply with all local regulations regarding permits, licenses, etc. Naturally, you’ll have to get a business phone number (not a cell phone). You can use your cell phone as a secondary line but the banks will check to see if your business phone number is a land line in your business name corresponding to the physical address you have given as your business address. Now your physical address could be your home. If you do indeed work from home, that’s okay. The important thing is that all of your business information is consistent.
The last step will be establishing a business credit profile with Dun & Bradstreet and the other business credit bureaus. These are the premier credit rating company’s that all banks turn to. To do this, you’ll need to get several business vendors who’ll extend you a small amount of credit. Pay those bills promptly, and those vendors can then be used as credit references. They will be reporting your payment history so the banks can check your business credit.
Getting that first business line of credit isn’t rocket science. It just takes a little bit of work, and a lot of attention to detail.
Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com

RECEIPT FOR Disaster - MIXING YOUR BUSINESS FINANCES WITH YOUR PERSONAL FINANCES

One of the most common business mistakes I see many small business owners and entrepreneurs make, is commingling their business and personal finances. The result can often be catastrophic. And for the most part, small business owners aren’t even aware of the implications. How so? Glad you asked.
In a word, “credit”. In two words, “bad credit”. This phenomenon usually manifests itself when the business owner applies for credit to buy a car, or even get a mortgage. That’s when the big, red, rubber stamp slaps down, “rejected” on his/her file. Or, when the dunning phone calls from business creditors become more frequent than calls from Aunt Sadie, who has nothing better to do than phone several times a day.
The result of all this commingling of credit can often result in two of the ugliest words in the English language – “bankruptcy” and “lawsuit”. Unfortunately, many small business owners don’t even see it coming.
How can something like this happen? Most often it’s because the small business owner used personal funds to either launch, or finance the expansion of their business. This can involve using personal credit cards, even taking out a Home Equity Loan or Home Equity Line of Credit. This commingling pierces the corporate veil, which opens you up personally to lawsuits. The money goes into the business on the premise that the business will pay it back. But, whoops!, when sales go down, and the business can’t afford to make the payments, it all comes home to roost. Unfortunately.
The best thing is not to get into this situation in the first place, but many small business owners and entrepreneurs are unaware of how they can establish a separate business credit profile. And this can often result in unfortunate consequences. If they only took the time to investigate how to do it, it could save them untold grief later on. But how does a small business do this?
Establish sound business financial practices from the outset. Make certain that when you plan your entrance into the small business arena, you do so both carefully, and realistically. Start establishing your business credit profile immediately. Set up your corporation (C or S-) or LLC (Limited Liability Company) properly. Next go to the IRS website and get your EIN for your business. This is like the social security number for your business. Set up your business bank account, with the same address you used for your legal paperwork to the state and government. Make sure that address is a physical address and not a P.O. Box or UPS store. Next is your business phone number and fax. Make sure this information is consistent and accurate. Make sure your business phone number is listed in the 411 National Directory Assistance with your physical business address. Create a business credit profile on your own or through Dun and Bradstreet.
Get your business familiar with Vendors that are in your business arena and get credit with them right away. Take the long-term view as to what you need to keep operating at a high level. Next, you need to pay your vendors promptly – very promptly, even if it means skipping your own salary at times (yes, this happens and you should plan for it). You’d be surprised, however, at how quickly your business credit profile will look rock-solid to a Business Loan Officer. And the better it looks, the better your chances of getting several unsecured lines of credit, which is exactly what you want.
There are many pit falls to starting or expanding a business, but commingling personal and business credit, and finances is one that should be strenuously avoided at all cost. And remember, be realistic about what you need – not what you want!
Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com

Obtaining Business Lines of Credit To Fund Your Business

Let’s say your business needs a capital infusion. Things are going well, but you need extra cash to expand, hire new employees, make improvements, increase marketing – whatever. Where do you turn to get the cash you need? Can you leverage your business to fund your goals? And how do you do it? Actually, there are more ways of getting funding than you probably thought.
Assuming your business is in good shape, pays its bills promptly, has a good cash flow, and is professionally managed, you have a lot of options. You can probably narrow down the list by scratching off Venture Capitalists and Angels. The former are only interested in lending you money if you plan to go public at some point. Angels (not the celestial kind!), might be interested if you have a lock on the, “next big thing,” but only if the payoff is calculated in the tens-of-millions of $$. You may not be quite there yet.
What does that leave? One valuable option is to start creating a business credit profile for your business. Creating a business credit profile can be done easily and can offer any number of business loans, from Working Capital, to Lines of Credit, to Construction, to Term Loans, to even business credit cards. If you already have a good working relationship with your Business Loan Officer, this is probably the first place to look, once you have your business credit profile in place. They know you, and you’ll be able to skip much of the red tape. This makes sense a lot of the time. But hold on! You have quite a few other options available.
Business credit cards, for example. All major business credit card companies have branched into commercial lending. Obtaining cash from this method is usually easier than other sources. However, this method of financing still needs an established business credit profile. Because lending institutions don’t lend money to sole proprietors. That’s called a personal loan. This is one option to be considered. Business credit cards can be useful in many ways and have reasonable interest rates as well. Once you have established your business entity, you will be receiving numerous offers from business credit card companies to apply. This is a great way to have access to capital. Remember that your business credit cards do not show up on your personal credit report. So any business debt that appears on your personal credit can be transferred to your business credit card, freeing up your personal debt to income ratio. This will increase your personal credit score almost immediately. Many times the credit card companies will offer 0% interest for a limited time (I’ve seen up to one year), then have a reasonable interest rate afterwards (anywhere from 8-14%). That’s far better than a hard money lender or private lender.
Then there’s unsecured lines of credit. The objective is to stimulate micro-enterprises and provide unsecured loans of up to $50,000 to small businesses. You can apply for unsecured lines of credit through your bank or many other institutions that offer them. Once again your business credit profile will need to be in place. Typically, an unsecured line of credit has an interest rate of Prime plus one or two points, depending on some factors that are taken into account. But the bonus here is that the money is unsecured which means you don’t have to put up any collateral for it. This type of lending does not require any financial statements as well. This gives you flexibility especially if your business doesn’t have a great cash flow yet. This is a great method for obtaining capital for your business whether it’s to expand, advertise, or market a new idea.
Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com

Start Business with Lousy Credit? Pat Gage, Denver, Colorado

You may be trying to start a business, or have one that’s in its initial stages. Your idea is great, your plan is flawless, and your product or service is ready for the fast lane. Only problem is, that super-charged, can’t-miss-small-business of yours is sitting by the side of the road. It’s stuck, and it’s out of gas.

The analogy may not be great, but if you’re in that type of situation, you know what it’s all about. Your personal credit rating is less than stellar. You found out just how bad, when the bank’s Business Loan Officer gave you a look of horror when you told him what you wanted to borrow, and why.

Let’s face it, he probably couldn’t wait to get you out of his office fast enough. Is there anything you can do to jump-start this situation? Yes there is. In fact, there a number of avenues you need to explore.

First things first. There are three credit reporting agencies, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. You want to get your tri-merge credit report, which is a report from all 3 credit bureaus. Once you get them in hand, you’ll have a clear idea of exactly where you stand – and just as importantly, why.

Review each and every report. Look for errors, because (guess what), the credit bureaus do make them. Maybe a bill they’re reporting as unpaid, involved a dispute. Maybe a credit card purchase wasn’t yours. If you find any glitches, report them immediately to the credit bureau involved. You can also enlist the services of an established credit repair company, if you’re not sure how to handle the disputes yourself.

Creating a business credit profile can also be an answer to your credit issue. By creating a business credit profile, you can start establishing credit for your business, which is separate than your personal FICO score. Establishing a business credit profile can help you get your business started while working to improve your personal FICO score. Once you establish your business credit profile your business can start applying for business credit cards and other types of business financing.

But, when you get business credit cards, keep your personal and business credit separate – very separate. Many folks fall prey to the temptation of using business credit cards for personal expenses. This is more than a red flag to business lenders, it’s a giant red balloon. Commingling your funds can cause many problems for your accountant and attorney. When you commingle your personal and business funds, you open the door to lawsuits and your bookkeeping becomes a nightmare.

Business credit cards can be a great source of financing. One misconception is that business credit cards have a high interest rate. This just isn’t true. Many business credit cards fall in the interest rate range of 8-14%. But more importantly remember this; it’s not always the cost of money that’s important, but the availability of money. Wouldn’t you like to have an extra $30,000, $50,000, or even $100,000 right now to start or expand your business? Make sure you are diligent about making payments on time and, two things will happen: First, the credit card company will court your business, and probably offer you a credit line increase. Second, your credit standing will improve with the bank. Bank’s love it when you’ve demonstrated the ability to pay off a loan – even if it’s not theirs.

Finally, make certain that you use your credit wisely, and strictly for the business. And more importantly, to improve the business – new equipment or hiring employees, marketing, whatever it takes. This will show a Loan Officer that you’re serious about what you’re doing, and will make you a more attractive loan candidate.

Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com

The Information that Banks will need for Business Credit Lines

Getting a business credit line from a bank isn’t the easiest thing to do – especially if you’re a start-up. Seed money, working capital, and other forms of loans, require that you pass a series of credit related checks.

So what do banks look for, and what can you expect? We’re going to tell you.

High on the list of establishing business credit is, of course, your personal credit history. No surprise there. If you’re a start-up, lenders will be looking at your personal credit. Banks won’t want to see late payments, missed payments, liens or a bankruptcy. The negative impact of these, and other credit deficiencies could have a substantial impact on your loan request. A late payment, here or there, won’t kill your chances, but if there’s a pattern of late payments, it very well could. If, however, you have a good explanation as to why these credit deficiencies exist, your chances of approval could increase. It’s probably a good idea to check your personal credit reports to clear up any possible discrepancies that could adversely affect your application. If your business is a start up, you may need to use your personal credit in the beginning, and while you’re doing that you can begin to establish your business credit profile as well.

But let’s say you’re already in business, and haven’t established a business credit history yet. Now it’s your business’ credit that comes into play. Dun and Bradstreet, Experian, and Equifax are often the sources the banks will turn to when reviewing your business credit reports, including history, public record information, company background and supplier payment history. Whether you’ve been in business one day or 10 years, if you haven’t established a business credit profile, then your business is still at Day One. But it’s never too late to get started. If you’re a start-up, the bank is going to look for some solid financial projections. Remember the projections you use, are based on the assumption that you’re going to get the financing needed. Work with a financial specialist to put your numbers together. The money you spend on a financial consultant will be well worth it, and the bank will appreciate your professionalism.

If you’re already in business, the same applies. But now you have real figures to present to the bank. Assuming that they’re good, that should be it, right? Wrong. The bank is going to want to see what you want the loan for. Working capital, expansion, new equipment are always good. A loan to take your top producers for a rewards week in the Caribbean is not.


Collateral doesn’t have to come into play when you apply for business credit. Why is this? Because the banks lend business lines of credit without it. They’re called unsecured credit cards and unsecured lines of credit. These are great avenues for any business that perhaps doesn’t have the business collateral. It’s never a good idea to use personal collateral to fund your business. The banks will generally lend up to $50,000 without collateral on these types of loans. The banks do require a strong business credit profile and sometimes a good personal credit profile and these can be easily established and obtained. Lenders know that there’s a strong correlation between your commitment to your business and the loan being repaid.

In the end, getting business credit is all about the figures. Do they or don’t they work. If they do, and if you present your case in a straightforward manner, you’ll put your business in the best light, and in all probability, get the loan. Always remember that the bank wants to lend you money. It’s up to you to show that you can repay the loan.

Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com

Business Credit Cards: Pat Gage, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

To any business, either a start-up or established, business credit cards can be very valuable financial tools if managed properly. Remember also, that because they’re business credit cards, they are unsecured and do not report on your personal credit report. Which means there is no collateral tied to them. Great benefit!! But if used improperly, it can have a devastating affect on your business’ credit profile, and hence, your business itself.

Managing your business credit cards doesn’t require an MBA from Harvard, or a financial specialist looking over your shoulder every time you plunk it down. But it does require careful monitoring, and plain old common sense. Here are a few tips you can use to get the most from your business credit cards:

· Always apply at your primary bank first. Why? Because you’ve already established a banking relationship which can pave the way for an easy application process. In short – they know you. Once you get the business credit cards, and pay them in a timely manner, it will increase your credit worthiness in the eyes of the bank. This will be of significant help when you apply for additional business lines of credit later on.

· Never co-mingle your business credit cards with your personal credit cards. However, here’s a little secret to the game. If you have business debt on your personal credit cards, transfer balance the debt to your business credit card and this will immediately improve your personal credit score by lowering your debt to income ratio. This is a huge benefit of being a business owner.

· Once your business credit is established, you’ll be deluged by special offers from credit card companies on a daily basis. When you’re invited to apply and the offer is good, then apply. Remember this: Just because you have applied and received a business credit card, doesn’t mean you have to use it immediately. It’s always a good idea to have extra “Rainy Day” money available. Every business goes through ups and downs and having the money available can be invaluable during one of those down times. It’s always easier to get money when you don’t need it.

· By all means, use the grace period when paying your business credit cards. Most providers of business credit cards offer a 21-day grace period before payment is due. This can be a big help in improving your cash flow, and it’s built-in for you to use. Don’t abuse it, and don’t pay later than the grace period deadline, however.

· Like many business transactions today, you can pay your business credit card bill online. This may not sound like such a big deal, but when you think of the time and effort it takes to write out and mail a check, it’s really a good deal. Especially since the mail can sometimes be unpredictable. Knowing you can choose the exact date your bill is paid, is priceless.

· Do not pay your credit card bills late! Yes, take advantage of the grace period, but paying late, especially if it develops into a habit, will end up costing a lot more than the actual bill. Late fees will bring about higher interest rates. But more importantly, late payments will go straight to your business’ credit profile – and you don’t want it there, especially if you plan on trying to get a line of credit from your bank or lender in the near future. Pay the bills on time, if possible.
Finally, always remember that your business credit card can be a very effective tool in managing your company’s finances. But like any tool, if handled improperly, it can cause irreparable harm – in this case, to your company’s business financial profile. Use it wisely!

Pat Gage, The Opportunity Creator, and a leading expert in the field of business credit has helped a number of clients target his specialty, starting, expanding, and growing their businesses through his trademarked 10 Steps to Money System. The Opportunity Creator is not only a sought after business credit coach but also a national speaker. For more information on any topic discussed, visit Gage’s site at http://www.10stepstomoney.com