Small businesses help drive our economy, yet so many have trouble knowing where to begin their ventures. One thing is for sure, it takes more than passion to start up and grow an entrepreneurial endeavor. “If you’re going to start a business you want to get the right type of information, the right type of counseling and the right type of training,” Calvin Davis, Small Business Association District Director said.
Davis said those resources are available here in Lubbock through SBA.
“Counseling and training services are absolutely free,” Davis said.
However, even a good plan won’t sprout a business success. First thing is first: a start-up fund.
“An individual must go to a bank first. Then the bank will make a decision if they’ll do it commercially or through SBA,” Davis said.
Capital CDC is one development corporation certified by SBA to administer a loan program called 504.
“It’s also known as a 50, 40, 10 program. We can provide up to 90 percent of the costs for small businesses to acquire general real estate, but also other fixed assets,” Jason Bigham, Business Development Officer for Capital CDC said.
Bigham said the 504 loan offers borrowers a longer repayment term.
“Our portion of the financing, the 40 percent is going to be fixed for generally 20 years for real estate. The rates are really low right now. We’re seeing deals in the four and half percent to five percent range right now," Bigham said.
That time buys more opportunity for the business to profit.
“That means they can hold more money back and use that for working capital,” Bigham said.
However, loaning out to an entrepreneur can be risky business for a lender.
"67 percent of all businesses will fail within five years,” Davis noted.
Davis said that SBA loans give the bank more security.
“If that loan goes bad, SBA will pay the lender off their guaranteed portion, say 75 percent. The person that got the loan still has to pay off the loan because these are taxpayer dollars,” Davis said.
SBA loan guaranty programs are just one feature of the non profit’s mission to assist small businesses throughout the United States.
