The fact is, there are some universal philosophies and parameters bankers use when reviewing requests for business loans. The simple truth is this: while the parameters are standard, the weight given to those parameters can vary from bank to bank.

That’s why working with a local bank, like OmniAmerican, can be such a big advantage for your business. We are in tune with the local economy and the business opportunities in the D/FW Metroplex. Our loan decisions aren’t made out of New York or Charlotte or San Francisco. Our lending decisions are all made by our staff located right here in Fort Worth.

Naturally, you’ll want to contact your banker early in your process so we can help you and be on the lookout for resources, as well. I suggest getting involved with your local chamber of commerce because you’ll find a wealth of resources and other community-oriented business people who can provide encouragement, insight and experience which you can tap into and from which you can benefit. You should also surround yourself with knowledgeable experts. Friends and family make good cheerleaders and are often an excellent source of capital, though they may lack the credible insight or experience needed when it comes to running a business. You’ll need access to people you can go to for managing a staff, dealing with business technology, financial planning and accounting, sales and marketing, business law and the other aspects of running a business. Some of these advisors might be paid for their professional expertise while others may provide free expert advice and counsel. Even if you are handling all of those tasks yourself, you’ll still want be able to tap into people who can keep you up to date on things which will affect your business.

I commend you for building a business and wish you every success. Running a small business is the thread in the American fabric. Small business owners help make our city, county and country the destination of dreams. Please keep me informed of your progress.