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Obama’s Small Business Stimulus Plan – Start Your Small Business With Obama’s Stimulus Package



If you have been struggling with trying to stay in business, you’re not alone. The slow economy has been responsible for affecting the lives of millions, for the US and everywhere else. American’s President Obama has seen what homeowners, companies, and consumers are going through, and put forth a $787 billion stimulus in February of 2009 to promote economic growth.

Among those who are pegged to receive assistance through funding and the addition of jobs include scientific research groups, schools, energy programs, Medicaid, and contractors. But what about small business owners? Are you eligible? How do you go about the application process?

The good news is that since everyone is facing financial strains, the Stimulus has a program that targets small businesses. Receiving assistance can make the difference in having your company rise above to the level of bigger corporations with whom you might have been finding difficult to compete. Here’s what you can do to benefit from the Stimulus:

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has come up with a way for you to be guaranteed for up to a $35,000 loan without having to pay for it for up to 12 months. They have $426,000,000 in government funding to use toward helping small businesses like yours, so that it keep you from losing your company.

Have high interest rates kept you from obtaining a loan in the past? You no longer have to worry about that. Under the Stimulus, you are able to refinance a small business loan of up to $10,000,000 if it was issued before the Stimulus went into affect.

Did you know that you can increase your company’s private capital or investments from 300% or $15 million, depending on the lesser amount, to 300% or $150 million as the maximum? This will enable your business to become established in the marketplace and local community, so that you can continue to grow your business using Stimulus money for marketing, professional development, or applying the funds to areas of your company that need it most.

Small Business Lenders



Small Business Lenders are certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration to provide guaranteed funding to small business owners. Due to the diversity of applicants and the different business types, the SBA partners with their lending partners to make it easier for small businesses to obtain funding for new start-ups. Their involvement has allowed small business owners to obtain loans for a longer term and thus reduce the monthly repayments incurred. This provides businesses with a longer period of time to mature and stabilize without having to bear the heavy burden of a large loan repayment amount.

With this, the SBA has appointed a list of a few thousand lending partners in every state to extend this facility to the general public. Of course, borrowers are still required to submit full-fledge loan application proposals to the lender with the difference being that the SBA is the guarantor for such loans. This typically means that if the borrower defaults than the risk of non-repayment will fall upon the SBA, as they will then be responsible for repaying the loan.

Additionally, the criteria set forth for small business loans make 90% of all businesses qualified applicants for these loans. Apart from that, businesses are not burdened with balloon payments and high interest rates, which would otherwise be offered by any other commercial lender. Furthermore, fixed rate loans and variable loans are available to business owners. Therefore, business owners have more options in deciding the type of loan that would be suited for their business.

The purposes of acquiring a small business loan are varied according to the situation of the business. Small business owners may obtain loans to purchase real estate for business expansion purposes, to provide cash flow to support a large project, to lease machinery to operate a business, to utilize as working capital or to purchase inventory. Whatever the reason may be, business loans are evaluated an approved by these micro lenders after thorough evaluation of the business background, viability and purpose. The only difference is that through the support of the SBA, they are more willing to give out loans, as their risk is minimal with repayments guaranteed by a government agency.

Tips to Obtain Small Business Loans



If you are interested in starting a small business, then you have to know about small business loans. There are many different ways to get funding for your new enterprise, as well as many different kinds of loans. Finding the one that is best for your enterprise can be a daunting task, but with the right information, it is not impossible.

Most banks do not want to loan money to someone who is starting a new enterprise. When trying to get a loan for a small business, collateral will probably be needed for the bank to approve the loan. Things such as cars, houses, land, or other hard assets will usually work for collateral. The bank will probably want to have an asset-backed borrowing transaction with business owners, rather than loaning money to a business based on inventory or other such methods.

Having a co-signer is also an option for getting a loan from the bank, but make sure you trust the co-signer before trying this method. There is also another place that a loan can be borrowed from, which is the Small Business Administration.

This is a government agency that invests in new, small businesses. In many cases, if a loan is borrowed from the SBA, then the SBA will pay back 90% of the loan if you default on it. Another place to try for a loan is through commercial finance companies or venture capitalists.

When applying for small business loans, there are certain procedures that must be followed to increase the business owners’ chances of actually getting a loan. Every place you approach with the hope that they will finance your new enterprise will look at your financial projections, credit history and your character.

If there is a personality conflict between you and the lender, then you probably will not get the loan. However, it is a good idea to try several different places until you find someone who gets along with you, so that you can get a small business loan.

There are also little quirky things that can be done to make a better impression on loan officers. Dressing professionally, keeping a professional manner, and calling ahead of time for an appointment are usually necessary to get loans for small businesses.

There are some other things that might increase your chances of getting a loan as well, such as being able to answer any questions about your business plan. Being over prepared is better than being under prepared.

Hopefully, you now have a little more information about small business loans and how to get one. If you are trying to open a new business, then look at all the information out there and maybe consider talking to a loan officer about your business plan before applying for a loan. He or she can give you some sound business advice.

Resources Offered by the Small Business Association



For those interested in starting a business, the Small Business Administration (SBA), can be an important resource. The SBA is well known as a source for small business loans, but they offer much more. The organization is an outstanding government agency with resources geared specifically to help small business owners start up and stay in business. And even better news is that many of those resources are free of charge.

First founded in 1953, the SBA is an independent agency that provides counsel, aid, and assistance, designed to protect small business interests. Other focuses of the SBA include preserving and maintaining free competitive enterprise, as well as well as strengthening the nation’s economy. Small businesses are a vital part of this country’s existence, providing products and services to consumers while providing income to employees of the company.

Over the years, the SBA has grown and established a system for building the future of this country. Throughout their existence, the mission has remained the same – assisting the American people in starting, building, and growing businesses of various industries. In addition to providing needed services to the United States, this government agency also aids businesses in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and Guam.

The services and programs offered by the SBA include contracting opportunities, loans, training programs, and even aid in the event of disaster. Although not all offers provided by the SBA are listed in this article, we have listed some of the key benefits associated with the services offered.

Financial Aid and Planning

Many small businesses fail within the first five years. This failure is often due to under capitalization and poor management. To create and build a small business, you need ready capital, coupled with the right knowledge and planning. SBA can help by calculating finances needed for the business, as well as strategies for proper management. They offer free assistance from business experts. These experts will review your business plan and provide advice on improving and strengthening your plan. You can also utilize their resources to develop your plan.

Disaster Relief

The SBA also has a special division called the Office of Disaster Assistance, which has the responsibility of providing financial assistance to homeowners and businesses in an affordable, accessible, and timely manner. The major benefit is the long-term, low interest loans. If your company were to experience disaster, the SBA would step up to provide assistance for repairing and/or rebuilding.

Miscellaneous Programs

In addition to the two programs mentioned, keep in mind that it has a variety of solutions specific to small business owners. For instance, you could take advantage of online training from the SBA, which includes a number of free online courses. Counseling and assistance is also provided by the SBA, offering help through Small Business Development Centers, Women’s Business Centers, and a number of national training events.

Finally, the SBA is known for reaching out to audiences that many other organizations or agencies would not touch. It has special programs, tools, and resources specifically available to veterans, women, Native American Indians, and young entrepreneurs. Remember, the focus of this agency is to make it possible for anyone to become a successful business owner in the United States. Over the years, the SBA has proven a highly successful entity.