fbpx

Steps to get new small business loans

A federal plan to help small businesses during the coronavirus pandemic could prove to be overly complex, but Rebel Cole, Ph.D., a finance professor in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business, points out there are steps owners can take to improve their chances at securing relief.

Rebel Cole, Ph.D., a finance professor in Florida Atlantic University’s College of Business

The Paycheck Protection Program, part of the $2 trillion stimulus package signed by U.S. President Donald Trump last week, seeks to streamline the underwriting of loans to 30 million small businesses across the country by allowing applicants to complete a brief, two-page application and check boxes to verify the information they are submitting is truthful, according to Cole.

Lenders will charge applicants only 0.5 percent interest, but the loans can be forgiven if the businesses maintain 75 percent of their workers for two months and use the money for such expenses as payroll and rent. Self-employed owners can’t apply until April 10, though other small businesses can start applying today. (April 3).

Unfortunately, Cole predicts millions of small business owners won’t apply because they don’t know about the program or won’t understand the terms, including the forgiveness provision. Millions more likely won’t apply because they’re discouraged and expect to be turned down, according to Cole.

“This is a financial literacy issue,” Cole said. “I’d be surprised if even half of the 30 million owners get loans.”

Owners who intend to apply should contact their business bankers and find out what paperwork will be needed, said Cole, adding that owners should plan on submitting documentation on payroll and other qualifying expenses such as rent, as well as business tax returns for 2018 and 2019.

He also advises owners to plan their firms’ cash-flow needs for the next three months. If they have to stop paying the firms’ rent or mortgage, they should immediately contact their landlords or lenders and notify them that this is due to the pandemic. Owners who don’t know how to forecast cash flows should work with friends or relatives who do. Training is available through the Florida SBDC Network.

Cole said he’s encouraged that the program intends to streamline underwriting to prevent a huge backlog of applications.

“It might just work, but there are massive opportunities for fraud because of lack of formal underwriting,” he said. “I doubt that potential fraud is much of a priority right now. The critically important goal is to get the money out the door and into the hands of the small firms.”

Applications can be submitted through Small Business Administration lenders or federally insured banks and credit unions. Participating lenders can be found at sba.gov.

You May Also Like
Clamor Grows for More PPP

Anticipation is growing for Congress to free up another batch of PPP loans for small businesses as part of additional legislation to respond to the economic fallout from the COVID-19

Read More
Heroes of the Pandemic

By Clarissa Buch and Sally-Ann O’Dowd • photography (where indicated) by Eduardo Schneider “It’s so terrifying because as a pregnant female, I’m considered immuno-compromised. If I get infected, my immune

Read More
Business as usual

In the aftermath of our spring feature on how companies were dealing with the shutdown, businesses from all over South Florida continue to share their pandemic stories with SFBW. Here

Read More
Business as usual

[vc_row css_animation=”” row_type=”row” use_row_as_full_screen_section=”no” type=”full_width” angled_section=”no” text_align=”left” background_image_as_pattern=”without_pattern”][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text] By SFBW editorial staff Kevin Sheehan Jr. President, Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line Business backstory: The only two-night cruise sailing from the

Read More
Other Posts
Construction on Luxury Residential Community Development Begins in Miami

The residences will offer custom finishes and lavish amenities centered around indoor-outdoor living.

Read More
residential community
Real Estate Company Secures Four Law Firm Office Leases in Boca Raton

The offices are at the Eighteen Zero One and Boca Corporate Plaza buildings.

Read More
Office Leases in Boca Raton
NSU Broward Center of Innovation and Emerge Americas Host Successful South Florida Innovation Day

The event focused on strengthening the South Florida innovation ecosystem.

Read More
South Florida Innovation Day
South Florida Mother Expresses Gratitude to Broward Health North After Life-Saving Procedure

The patient reunited with the neurosurgeon and ICU nurses who oversaw her care.

Read More
Broward Health

Drew Limsky

Drew Limsky

Editor-in-Chief

BIOGRAPHY

Drew Limsky joined Lifestyle Media Group in August 2020 as Editor-in-Chief of South Florida Business & Wealth. His first issue of SFBW, October 2020, heralded a reimagined structure, with new content categories and a slew of fresh visual themes. “As sort of a cross between Forbes and Robb Report, with a dash of GQ and Vogue,” Limsky says, “SFBW reflects South Florida’s increasingly sophisticated and dynamic business and cultural landscape.”

Limsky, an avid traveler, swimmer and film buff who holds a law degree and Ph.D. from New York University, likes to say, “I’m a doctor, but I can’t operate—except on your brand.” He wrote his dissertation on the nonfiction work of Joan Didion. Prior to that, Limsky received his B.A. in English, summa cum laude, from Emory University and earned his M.A. in literature at American University in connection with a Masters Scholar Award fellowship.

Limsky came to SFBW at the apex of a storied career in journalism and publishing that includes six previous lead editorial roles, including for some of the world’s best-known brands. He served as global editor-in-chief of Lexus magazine, founding editor-in-chief of custom lifestyle magazines for Cadillac and Holland America Line, and was the founding editor-in-chief of Modern Luxury Interiors South Florida. He also was the executive editor for B2B magazines for Acura and Honda Financial Services, and he served as travel editor for Conde Nast. Magazines under Limsky’s editorship have garnered more than 75 industry awards.

He has also written for many of the country’s top newspapers and magazines, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Miami Herald, Boston Globe, USA Today, Worth, Robb Report, Afar, Time Out New York, National Geographic Traveler, Men’s Journal, Ritz-Carlton, Elite Traveler, Florida Design, Metropolis and Architectural Digest Mexico. His other clients have included Four Seasons, Acqualina Resort & Residences, Yahoo!, American Airlines, Wynn, Douglas Elliman and Corcoran. As an adjunct assistant professor, Limsky has taught journalism, film and creative writing at the City University of New York, Pace University, American University and other colleges.