The Funding University | Where Business Learns About Funding

Today we welcome back Bob Lee continue our discussion on equity investments  Last month, Bob and I discussed the importance of how to vet investors  On today’s talk, we go into what happens after you have picked your potential investor and what to look for when negotiating your agreements

Today, we welcome back Bob Lee the managing partner at BPL associates. On today's podcast, we are talking to Bob Lee about theimportance of vetting investors: On previous podcasts, I have talked about the importance oftrying to hold on to as much equity as possible by using debt capital. However, there are instances where bringing on equity is necessary and the right thing to do. Bob and I wil...

Today we welcome Chris Franz a corporate finance leader out of Phoenix Arizona to the podcast. Typically we talk about businesses that are well established and looking for debt but today Chris and I are going to talk about equity options for start ups. We will examine different structures that these companies can use. This includes convertible, notes, Safes, and Debt coupled with warrants Seth Blo...

This month we are rebroadcasting our podcast with Spencer Sheinen, of Shift Financial Insights. Spencer is also the author of the # 1 Amazon best-selling book “ Entreprenumbers” Spencer Sheinin, CPA, CA, has a unique background with over 15 years as an entrepreneur combined with extensive financial experience as a CPA, CA and investment banker. He is the Founder and CEO of Shift Financial Insights...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, we ask the question " When is the right time to start planning to exit your business? " I think the answer will surprise you. Please keep emailing us your questions.  If you have a question you’d like to submit, you can send it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠any of the email addresses listed below and we’ll do our best to have it answered in a future podcast.  Take c...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, we discuss the outlook for 2025. This includes the challenges arising from higher labor costs, changing technology and the possibility of new tariffs. We also discuss the opportunities for small businesses in the coming year. Please keep emailing us your questions.  If you have a question you’d like to submit, you can send it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠any of the email add...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, we ask: When is the right time to talk to a lender about funding opportunities in 2025?   And the answer is right now. Lenders are still working and looking for a full prospect list for the new year. Reach out and talk to them about your funding needs for 2025.   With that in mind, you should also take this time to be prepared for that process. Today we...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, Seth sits down with Craig Stacy of SunBelt Business Advisors back to ask him a very specific question: When  should owners start preparing to sell their business and what are the initial steps they should take Craig highlights the importance of understanding your financials and tax returns and what adjustments need to be made  We discuss why it is import...

Today we celebrate our 50th podcast. We also take the time to discuss the recent format changes we have implemented.  Two months ago we went from a 30-40 minute interview with Lenders and business owners to a 10-minute discussion about a specific topic. We have also expanded our universe of guests and areas of interest. In the future, we will examine business topics that will help owners and manag...

Today we tackle an issue that is causing headaches for companies when they go to get new financing. That is a UCC filing popping up that the business owner was not aware of. This turns out to be from secondary lenders, such as Merchant Cash Advances, or in some cases their vendors. I will walk through the UCC process. Discuss why these UCC's are being filed and give some advice on how to fix t...

Today we welcome Ross Mcclain of Rapid Business Systems to the podcast. Ross explains to us what a feasibility study is, and the importance of having a credentialed firm do the study so that the bank will accept it and what is involved in it. Ross gives us some highlights of feasibility studies. He gives us some examples of details they have discovered, that have been beneficial to the company bei...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, Seth sits down with Tom Zorich of Sawtooth Capital. Tom will tell us how he helped a company called Knowledge as a Service get started including setting up their financial systems that ultimately allowed them to raise several million dollars from Family members as well as other high net worth individuals.  Next Tom and I will discuss his time at Guardian...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, Seth sits down with Gary Teramae of McCoy Federal Credit Union. We discuss the reasons why it matters that Credit Unions are not for profit entities.  Gary later explains the different types of loans that are available at credit unions including SBA programs.  Please keep emailing us your questions.  If you have a question you’d like to submit, you can s...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, Seth gives two great examples of companies that were smart enough to analyze the cost of capital versus the rewards of an opportunity. In both instances, the correct decision was made. In doing so they did not leave money on the table. I hope these examples help you make the right decision the next time you come upon a great opportunity. Please keep emai...

In this month’s Funding University Podcast, we’re focusing on non-bank SBA lenders and speaking with Amy Perrella of Harvest Small Business Finance.  As Amy and I discuss, there are advantages of working with a non-bank lender because their lending guidelines tend to differ from the traditional banking lender, even though both are regulated.  Non-bank lenders don’t deal with deposits and credit ca...

Have you noticed that we’re just now at the beginning of March and we are already seeing a flurry of mergers being announced across the country?  The pattern is evident on a national, regional, and local level.  The reason we’re seeing the increase in M&A activity is because in 2023 money stayed on the sidelines as financial executives waited to see how the Fed would act on interest rates. Mos...

In this month’s podcast, we’re going to focus on something different. I’d like to talk about Truth & Accountability with Lenders. It’s incredibly important you communicate with your lender about your finances not only in times when finances are tight but in times when things are going well. Your lender wants you to be successful because they have a vested interest in your repayment, but even b...

2024 stands to be unlike any year we’ve had in modern times and with interest rate volatility, uncertainty in the financial markets, and heading into an election year, business owners are overwhelmed. How can anyone make an informed decision for their business when everything is changing so much?   I am excited to let you know that the Funding University is sponsoring the Funding Strategies Confer...

Joining Seth in The Funding University Podcast this month is Suzanne Meehle from the Meehle Law firm. Suzanne focuses on the needs of business owners. Her services include business formation, contracts, trademarks, copyrights, trade secret protection, business litigation, and IP litigation. In the podcast, Suzanne and Seth discuss different types of business lending and what borrowers should be fo...

In this month’s podcast, we’re going to look at two common situations with SBA loans, both of which can cause business owners some stress when it comes time to gain access to more working capital. We’ll explore what you need to know about the SBA 7A and EIDL programs, options to work within the system to help you get more capital, and what you need to know so you can avoid costly mistakes. The SBA...

In this month’s Funding University podcast, I opted to forgo having a guest because there’s an old economic term being discussed most people don’t know anything about: Stagflation.  There aren’t many experienced CFO or finance professionals still around who have tussled with stagflation.  The last time the US experienced stagflation was in 1973 and it puts the Fed in a tricky situation, especially...

Joining me this month on the Funding University Podcast is nationally recognized speaker and author Mike Scott. Mike is an authority on accountability in the workplace and his new course on “Meeting Purpose” discusses the control of meetings. Mike makes the observation that when you’re in a meeting, not only should the meeting have a clearly defined purpose, but it should have an agenda, which in...

 In this month’s Funding University Podcast, we decided to switch things up a bit and I’m on the other side of the microphone. Interviewing me is Brady Hicks, managing editor of Channel Vision Magazine.     Brady and I have a wide-ranging discussion about interest rates, managing debt, mergers & acquisitions, and changes to SBA lending programs. We touch on a variety of subjects, all revolving...

Joining Seth in The Funding University Podcast this month is Allan Gibbel of Utica Leaseco. Allan is an expert in equipment-based lending and is one of the most experienced collateral lenders in the U.S. In the podcast, Allan and Seth discuss equipment and collateral-based lending, including the kind of equipment preferred by lenders. In the conversation, they discuss the devaluation of used equip...

Business owners aren’t always aware of the damage runaway accounts payable can create. If your business has vendor accounts that are aging out and affecting your credit rating or attracting delinquent fees, there are working capital funding solutions to help. Join Seth Block as he discusses strategies you can use to get your accounts payable under control, find additional capital, and protect your...