Hello XPX! If you or your Middle Market clients are not happy with their current banking relationship, I’m happy to discuss anything from solving day-to-day problems to complete acquisition financing.  Comerica is the largest bank headquarter in Texas.  We take a holistic business approach, always putting our customers and our community first, and providing our clients a very high-touch banking experience. Specialties Include: M&A Financing Traditional C&I Lending SBA Loans Owner-Occupied Commercial Real Estate Machinery & Equipment Working Capital Lines of Credit Leasing Treasury and Cash Management Services And if you’re in Austin, I’d also make a great 4th for Pickleball!

Business acquisitions are among the eligible uses for Small Business Administration (SBA) 7(a) loans. In fact, the SBA 7(a) program provides many advantages for acquiring an established business, including its attractive terms, allowing a buyer to finance up to 90% of total project costs. Eligible Project Costs for SBA 7(a) Loans Include The acquisition of an SBA-eligible business and owner-occupied commercial real estate (owner-occupancy minimum of 51% is required) Working capital Closing costs SBA guaranty fee The franchise transfer fee, if applicable New equipment, if needed Inventory Loan Terms If the acquisition does not include commercial real estate, the maximum loan term is 10 years, fully amortized with no prepayment penalty. If commercial real estate is included, the SBA allows a blended loan term with 10 years for the business acquisition and 25 years for real estate. However, if 51% or more of loan proceeds are allocated to real estate, the SBA allows a 25-year term. Prepayment Penalties A prepayment penalty applies to all loans with a term of 15 years or greater. The penalty is 5% in year one, 3% in year two and 1% in year three, and none after that. In addition, the SBA allows a borrower to prepay up to 25% of the outstanding principal per year without penalty. Down Payment The SBA requires a 10% equity injection. The entire 10% injection can be from the buyer or a combination of a 5% buyer down payment and 5% seller financing if the seller is willing to have their note on full standby with no principal and interest (P&I) payments for the life of the loan. Eligible Sources of Buyer’s Equity Injection Include Cash in savings or checking accounts, seasoned for two months Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) if there is a secondary source of repayment not related to the business to be purchased Gifted funds that do not need to be repaid Seller financing on full standby of no greater than 5% of the 10% equity required Investor contributions from partners Personal guarantees are required by all individuals who will own 20% or more of the business to be acquired. Collateral Requirements SBA requires the lender to be in the first position on all assets to be acquired. In addition, if there is less than one-to-one collateral coverage, the SBA requires the lender to take a lien on all real estate owned by personal guarantors with 25% or greater equity. Pre-Qualification Documents To 

Lenders use the Global Debt Service Coverage Ratio to better understand your credit profile and it can either make or break your loan application If you read our most recent blog, the Global Debt Service Coverage Ratio (GDSCR) should not be a new term. Just in case you haven’t, the GDSCR is a tool that lenders use to verify your credit profile. It takes the sum of your gross income in a given year and divides it by the sum of your debts in the same year. The ratio takes both your personal and business credit profiles into account and can risk rejection if one lowers the ratio below an acceptable GDSCR.  This is what happened to one Wallace Capital Funding, LLC client, a businessman who owns a mortgage broker, construction company and investment company. In addition to this, he and his wife also invest in real estate. With all of these income, debts, assets and liabilities, there was a lot of ground to cover.  Although he understood personal mortgage and the debt to income ratio, which is all of your monthly debt payments divided by your gross monthly income, he did not understand why we needed to know all of the details surrounding his business ventures. This is because to calculate the GDSCR, all of this information is within his gross income — which includes “wages and salary plus other forms of income including pensions, interest, dividends, and rental income,” according to finance website Investopedia. And unless your business is a

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What is your goal for your business? As fractional CFOs, when we first meet with our clients, this is among the first questions we ask. Your goals will inform much of our work supporting your company – whether we focus on preparing you for a near-future exit or growing and building the value of your business over time. This is what makes our fractional CFOs – many of whom are also CEPAs – a vital (and often missing) piece of the exit planning puzzle. Many business owners enlist exit planning experts as they approach the exit process, bringing in an army of resources to make the most out of what has already been built. A fractional CFO, however, becomes embedded in your business over time and, in the process, comes to serve as a value growth advisor – a financial expert who can help you 

ROBS – or use funds from their existing personal 401(k) or other retirement accounts as capital for buying a business.   In addition to creating cash flow and minimizing the use of debt, ROBS are an attractive source of funds unlocking value from an individual’s retirement savings to fund a business, what are the tax advantages that make considering a ROBS strategy worthwhile?  First, there is the aspect of tax deferral. Financing through ROBS avoids the early withdrawal penalty normally incurred when funds are withdrawn from retirement savings prior to retirement. When you use the capital from your 401(k) to fund a new income taxes or penalties, more money is available to go into the business, thus maximizing your available capital.  In addition to increasing capital efficiency, you avoid loan obligations because ROBS is not a debt product. It’s simply accessing the equity you already have built up in your retirement plan, so there’s no monthly repayments or interest like you would incur with a loan.  Accessing Business Capital Through ROBS  Here are some points to remember about how the flow of money works when using a ROBS strategy:  The new business entity to be funded must specifically be established as a C-Corp.  After a new 401(k) or profit-sharing plan is the business advisory space and how to implement a ROBS strategy. For a consultation on your business plans and objectives, please contact us at 770.740.0797 or email info2@SJGorowitz.com. 

As a small business owner, your instinct might tell you to seize every opportunity that knocks on your door. Let’s face it: saying yes can be a thrilling ride into new ventures. Sometimes, you need to remind yourself of your organizational Sweet Spot.  Does your team have the bandwidth, the people power, and the infrastructure to take it on? Sometimes, saying no is not just the better option; it’s a powerhouse move that aligns your business with your growth goal. Here’s the lowdown on when, how, and why flexing your “no” muscle is your smartest play. The Unmanageable Yes When you’re overcommitted and under-resourced, every additional yes is like adding more weight to an already overstretched team. If saying yes means sacrificing the quality of your work, spreading your resources thin, or burning out your team, then it’s time for a firm, resolute “no.” Remember, quality over quantity isn’t just a great saying – it’s the golden rule for sustainable growth. The Misaligned Opportunity Some opportunities seem golden on the surface, but they won’t help you achieve your business mission, vision, or values. Listen up: Your business is your compass; every decision should steer you to your true north. If it doesn’t fit, say no. It’s not just about avoiding the wrong turn; it’s about staying true to your course and your team’s potential. The Power of Prioritization Here’s a reality check—you can’t do it all. When you say no to less important things, you say yes to more focus, energy, and time for what truly matters. Embrace the art of prioritization because knowing what to decline is as vital as knowing what to pursue. Make your yes count! Cultivating Respect Saying no isn’t just about protecting your time and energy; it’s about setting boundaries. Assertiveness isn’t rude; it’s a sign of respect – for yourself, your team, and your business’s vision. When you respect your limits, others will follow suit. It signals to the world that your time, team, and resources are valuable. Conclusion Saying no is a tough decision. It’s not a negative judgment; it’s a selective choice. Think of the word no as a complete sentence and a powerful tool to guide your business to where it truly belongs. So, the next time you’re faced with a request that doesn’t feel right, plant your feet, take a deep breath, and remember that saying no is not just okay—it’s essential for your business’s health and ongoing success.   Do you need to get in your Owner Sweet Spot?

GAAP traps often occur when a business owner sells a company to a third party. The transaction is commonly memorialized by a Purchase Agreement. That agreement contains certain representations (or “reps”) and warranties. Some of these are common sense and should pose no problem to someone who has operated a good business. The Accounts Receivable represent money that is actually owed to the company. Taxes have been filed on a timely basis. The seller doesn’t know of any pending litigation. The owner has the right and authority to enter into a sale agreement. There is one, however, that is frequently required by attorneys who don’t understand privately held business, and agreed to by owners and their attorneys who don’t understand what they are guaranteeing. They are Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, or GAAP. What is GAAP? To start, the term “Generally Accepted” is misleading. It could easily be interpreted as “what everyone typically does.” Nothing could be further from the truth. GAAP is determined by two organizations, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Per I

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