Financing Your Small Business – What You Need to Know About SBA Lending
Approximately 75% of small business owners never get in front of a lender to talk about a commercial loan. It is no wonder that being undercapitalized is a leading cause of small business failure. Don’t let the lack of appropriate financial resources get in the way of your success as a small business owner. Come to this workshop and learn what you can do today to prepare yourself financially to operate a successful business. This workshop will help entrepreneurs understand SBA loans that are available to help small businesses including the benchmark 7a Loan Program as well as 504 Loans, Microloans, Community Advantage Loans and other lending options. The Dallas/Fort Worth area has an abundance of loan programs available for the small business owner, but it is important to understand how commercial lending works and how you as an entrepreneur can prepare to meet with a lender and receive the funding that you need. You will learn how your personal finances, the financial documents for your business, your written business plan and first and foremost, how your ability to succinctly prepare yourself to communicate the story of your business success can impact your ability to receive and maintain appropriate capital.
Presented by Linda L. Williams and Kim Boydon
Linda Williams serves as an Economic Development Specialist with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Over the 15 years with SBA she has held positions in lending, lender relations and economic development. Prior to joining SBA she held marketing and development positions in the publishing and health care industries. She earned a Master of Business Administration degree from Dallas Baptist University where she taught as an adjunct professor in the undergraduate business program. She earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in Marketing from the University of Texas at Arlington. She is well known for her workshops and webinars for small business owners and those who are contemplating entrepreneurship.
Kim Boyden is the Business Development Officer of LiftFund in Fort Worth, Texas. LiftFund has grown to become the largest micro and small business lender in the United States. The nonprofit organization provides loans and management training to enterprises of all types of businesses from startups to long established businesses and operates in the states of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. Ms. Boyden is responsible for the Tarrant County Region as well as the surrounding communities. Kim also works closely with the DFW District Office of the Small Business Administration in providing time as a panelist and various workshops as needed. She has been a Score Volunteer for over 10 years counseling future entrepreneurs, who face considerable obstacles when seeking guidance in gaining the financing they need to start and grow their businesses.
Ms. Boyden is also a Licensed General Insurance Agent in the State of Texas.
Ms. Boyden graduate with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.
Because our work is supported by the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), and thanks to our network of 10,000 volunteers, we are able to deliver our services at no charge or at very low cost.