The Art of SBA Lending

Is this really the 4th one? The BDO Retreat started in December of 2021, on the heels of the SBA 7(a) programs biggest year ever, to give top-producing BDO's a chance to reward themselves with a luxury retreat, and rejuvenate their mind and body to get ready for the start of the year. It took off 🚀 We had to do it again. And again. And again. Each time, leveling up the event, and leveling up ourselves. And now here we are, set to host our 4th one! Part of the magic of this event is the intimacy - 20 top-producing BDOs sitting around a conference room sharing exactly what they did to get to $40, $60, $80 and yes, even $100 million in annual production. And since Kendrick won the battle 🎙️ we're hosting the event this year on the west coast...well, kind of... Location: SCOTTSDALE, AZ Dates: January 17-18, 2025 👉The event kicks off Friday at 5:30pm with a welcome reception, followed by a dinner. 👉On Saturday, we'll wake up bright and early for a day of workshops, speakers, and sharing best practices. 👉The things we learn in these workshops cannot be found anywhere else. It's pure gold. 👉Then it's time to reward ourselves with a closing dinner offsite. Due to the limited number of tickets, this event is expected to sell out quick. For more information, and to secure your ticket, visit our website. See you in Scottsdale!

⛏️ Canary in the Coal Mine? Concession requests early in the deal This week on The BDO Show, we’re talking about the early warning signs that a deal might not survive to closing. When either the borrower begins asking for multiple concessions from the start, it might be time to hit pause. 👉 🕵️♂️ This can reveal more than just a tough negotiation – it can indicate an unwillingness to compromise, a "my way or the highway" approach, and it often doesn’t bode well for reaching the finish line. Listen in to hear about more red flags and other expert insights. Links in the comments! 🎧 This episode is sponsored by: Peak Business Valuation Peak Business Valuation works with over 80 SBA bank lenders across the country, performing around 1,100 SBA-compliant Business Valuations and 100 Equipment Appraisals a year. Those whom we work with label us as fast, reliable, and insightful. For more information, visit their website www.peakbizval.com or email Ryan Hutchins at ryan@peakbusinessvaluation.com

Culture doesn’t just ‘happen’ – 🔨🪚 you have to build it. 💡 Whether you’re defining core values or reinforcing values with action, it’s all about bringing intention to how we work together. This week’s episode is for every person in the SBA industry, no matter your role. Ray shares his personal “Top 10 Culture Killers” that leaders should address and brings another great panel of Art of SBA Contributors to discuss how core values can be woven into the fabric of daily operations. We’re talking about the steps every SBA shop can take to build a culture that resonates and stands out. Joining Ray this week, we have: 🔹 Chris Hurn 🔹 Brooke Mirenda President & CEO of SEDCO 🔹 Jeannie Yoder SBA Regional Executive at United Community Bank Listen in for actionable advice on creating a workplace where your team will thrive – because culture is more than a buzzword, it’s the key to long-term success. Links in the comments for the new full episode! 🎧 This episode is sponsored in part by: Rapid Business Plans Rapid Business Plans is the go-to provider of business plans and feasibility studies for government guaranteed small business lenders. For more information, or to set up a Get Acquainted call go to https://lnkd.in/eaMG8CAd

Yesterday, Paul T Long and Tonya Mazurek went live on SBA Today to recap last week’s SBA Connect Call. If you missed it, you can find the full 15 minute briefing here: Apple: https://lnkd.in/eeZGttJX Spotify: https://lnkd.in/ecCC5_kY In addition to the recap, Tonya offers a powerful reminder that we need to be thinking about the “why” behind what we do. Powerful stuff!

💡 What if SBA lending was simplified into one powerful program? 💡 In the latest episode of The Art of SBA Lending, we’re pushing the envelope with a fresh idea: merging the 7a and 504 programs. Imagine the flexibility of the 7a loan with the attractive fixed rates of the 504—all in one package. Is it possible? 🤔 Tune in as Ray and our panel of Art of SBA Contributors discuss: - The Long-Term Impact on the SBA’s Mission- Would a unified program strengthen the SBA’s goals of fostering small business growth and job creation, or dilute its focus? - Risk Considerations for Lenders- how would the different risk profiles of 7a and 504 merge in a single program? - Comparing 7a Flexibility with 504 Stability- How each program serves a unique purpose and whether they can be effectively merged. With this week’s panel: 💼 Brooke Mirenda President & CEO, SEDCO 💼 Ken Rosenthal Senior Advisor, Momentus Direct Capital 💼 Mitchell C. Fogel Managing Partner, Fogel Law Group Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion on the future of SBA lending. Find the link to listen in the comments below! 🎧 This episode is sponsored in part by: The Content Store The Content Store is a video content agency specialized in podcast, YouTube, and short form video editing. Elevate your brand with premium video content today. Go to https://lnkd.in/eqfeW_yJ to get in touch.

🔔Breaking Down the October 8th SBA Connect Call🔔 We’ve got: 📰 Today, we're going to break down the latest from the SBA Connect Call: 🔹Servicing 🔹7a WCP Pilot - 60 Days In Disclaimer: The views expressed on this show are our own and not necessarily the views of our employer.

💼 Sterling’s BDO Tip of the Week: Get ahead of potential deal killers! In todays new episode of The BDO Show, we’re tackling why some deals die before they ever reach closing. One actionable tip: collect a larger expense deposit upfront. It’s about setting yourself up for success, especially if you foresee challenges like appraisal issues or environmental reports. 👉 Collect $5,000, $7,500, or whatever amount makes sense to cover third-party reports while underwriting. This way, everything moves forward on a streamlined timeline, and you avoid those last-minute deal delays. Want more tips on closing more deals faster? Tune in and let us know your thoughts! 🎧 This episode is sponsored by: Peak Business Valuation Peak Business Valuation works with over 80 SBA bank lenders across the country, performing around 1,100 SBA-compliant Business Valuations and 100 Equipment Appraisals a year. Those whom we work with label us as fast, reliable, and insightful. For more information, visit their website www.peakbizval.com or email Ryan Hutchins at ryan@peakbusinessvaluation.com

That’s a wrap folks! Tonya Mazurek and Paul T Long help us close out another fiscal year in the world of SBA. Spoiler alert: Best. Year. Ever. 🎧Listen in on the conversation by streaming this weeks episode Spotify: https://lnkd.in/efeWkr-t Apple: https://lnkd.in/eG4cQ_F8

Two SBA programs, one vision—could it work? 🤔 On The Art of SBA Lending this week, Ray Drew and our panel of Art of SBA Contributors are talking about an ambitious concept: merging the SBA 7a and 504 programs. We’ll debate if combining these giants could offer small business owners even better access to capital. What we’re discussing: 👉🏼Why SBA 7a and 504 were created in the first place and how they’ve evolved 👉🏼How a merged loan program could impact borrowers, lenders, and the secondary market 👉🏼The potential advantages—and challenges—of bringing these two giants together This week’s panel: ✨ Brooke Mirenda , President & CEO, SEDCO ✨ Ken Rosenthal, Senior Advisor, Momentus Direct Capital ✨ Mitchell C. Fogel, Managing Partner, Fogel Law Group Could this idea reshape SBA lending as we know it? Listen in to find out! Find the link in the comments to watch on YouTube or listen in on your favorite podcast streaming services. Rapid Business Plans Rapid Business Plans is the go-to provider of business plans and feasibility studies for government guaranteed small business lenders. For more information, or to set up a Get Acquainted call go to https://lnkd.in/eaMG8CAd

🚀 Hitting $100M as a BDO might seem impossible. But for a select few, it’s a reality. So, how do they get there? We’re exploring what it means to evolve as a top-producing BDO. On the latest episode of The Art of SBA Lending, we broke down the different career paths top BDOs take once they’ve hit big numbers, and what’s next when they want to keep growing. 📈 Scale to $100M — What’s the grind really like? 💼 Sales Management — Is it worth the pay cut? 🏢 Running a shop — The ultimate challenge for any BDO. Catch this motivating conversation with our Art of SBA Contributors of this week: 🎙 Jared W Johnson Senior Business Development Officer at First Internet Bank 🎙 Jeannie Yoder, SBA Regional Executive at United Community Bank 🎙 Dustin Baker, Co-Founder & CEO of Shatterbox Are you ready to take the next step in your career? Tune in now for expert insights and practical advice. 🔗 Links to the full episode below! This episode is sponsored in part by: Baker Lewis Baker Lewis is the SBA lending industry’s premier executive search and personnel consulting firm. Schedule a call by reaching out to Dustin Baker at 940-230-4321.