Category Archives: Access to Capital

Access to Capital – Critical for Business

Posted on by
Reply

mullins-thompson-sallie-picSallie Mullins-Thompson, Principal, Sallie Mullins Thompson CPA PLLC, WIPP Member

Over the past 20+ years, while conducting my accounting, tax preparation, financial planning, and business management consulting practice, I have had the opportunity and pleasure to work with and mentor the owners of many small businesses – the majority of which have been women.

Time and time again, I find that even though women business owners are fabulous entrepreneurs with high levels of skills, education, and experience in their profession or industry, they are not always given the same chances, as compared to male business owners, particularly in the area of access to capital. The statistics in this area are quite disheartening; for example in 2013, less than 1 in 3 loan applications for women-owned firms were approved and resulting in only 4.4% of the total dollar value of all small business loans.  That’s $1 out of every $23 being loaned to small businesses.

I wonder why that is, given that women-owned small businesses (WOSBs) constitute close to 40% of all small businesses, generate over $1.6 trillion in gross revenues, are growing at four times the rate of men-owned business, and employ approximately 9 million people. Thus, these WOSBs have a huge impact on the economy, especially as it continues to recover from the 2008 recession.

Having capital to start or grow a business is extremely critical. As a matter of fact, not having enough cash is the major reason small businesses fail or are unable to move to the next level. So, as many agree, since small businesses are the economic engine of the economy and WOSBs represent over 1/3 of that population, then I think that the major federal candidates running for office in the upcoming 2016 election need to be talking about the access to capital for women entrepreneurs.

After all women generally vote in higher numbers than men, with the increase growing larger in each election cycle. Plus, women currently make up a majority of the electorate at 51%. Therefore, women are a constituency that these candidates should want to hear from. And, it’s up to us to make sure they do!

WIPP has put together a most impressive program of action in its Economic Blueprint. Check out the Access to Capital Principles section to learn more about these comprehensive policy solutions. Then, let’s see if we can begin the process of changing the conversation of the 2016 candidates as Election Day draws nearer.

Share your view on Access to Capital and its impact on your business by taking quick poll.

Access to Capital – Cut the Red Tape

Posted on by
Reply
Coins and plant, isolated on white background

Concept of a plant and a lot of golden coins isolated on white background

By Jeanette Prenger, President, EccoSelect, WIPP Board Member

Twenty years ago I founded my company in a way that a lot of entrepreneurs do when entering the service industry; I created a business plan to provide services in a field that I had a lot of experience in – IT. Growing up as a software engineer and earning promotions into management gave me the confidence that I could offer the same type of service as more expensive firms supplying contractors in technology. I was my first billable contractor and did not quit my ‘day job’ until I had the security of knowing I would still have a paycheck coming into our household. By paying myself a salary similar to what I was earning in corporate America and saving the profits, I was able to self-fund a dozen contractors over the next year.

Fast forward twenty years later. We have several million dollars available in a line of credit. I still own 100% of my company but I have a dilemma. In order to accelerate into the next level, I need to look at funding mechanisms other than my line of credit. Those dollars are already spoken for by our accounts receivable.

So what’s the problem? Banks are hesitant to provide traditional loans to grow businesses if the business can get funding elsewhere. The SBA provides loans, of which I leveraged after 9/11, but the price was high. The interest was over 7%, the paperwork extremely time consuming and required outside assistance to help make sure that we could get a loan needed to cover losses incurred by bad receivables.

I’ve seen other companies similar to flourish with a couple of observations. One, they had investor money put into the company and the culture was driven by a quick ROI back to the investors. Ownership was diluted but the investments allowed the company to hire the type of expertise needed to grow the business. Secondly, the businesses had executives who understood how to access capita including what was needed was preparation, where to go and what the risk / rewards could be.

As a woman and a minority, my education did not prepare me to go the route of seeking investors. Nor, do I really understand how to navigate through all the red tape that banks have discussed with me if I want to borrow money to acquire another business similar to mine. Education, especially to small business owners and to disadvantaged businesses (minority, women, vets….) through the SBA, local banks, and community banks on how we can grow businesses with shared risk would be a tool that many businesses would welcome. Banks and traditional lenders were already risk adverse prior to the new regulations and oversight that have caused them to decrease loans to small businesses for growth. They are hesitant to assist in providing education to actually gain capital and yet banks, and the government, bail out big businesses.

Our elected officials need to look at the stimulus they could facilitate if small businesses and disadvantaged businesses had access to capital. If incentives were given to lenders to educate businesses about loans, the types that work best for their companies and actually provided the capital needed.

If small business is truly the ‘engine of our country’ let’s provide some fuel!

Share your view on Access to Capital and its impact on your business by taking quick poll.

Growth Accelerator Fund Competition

Posted on by
Reply

The SBA’s Growth Accelerator Fund Competition is open for applications and ready to award successful incubators and growth accelerators with cash prizes. This competition, which awards the most innovative and promising small business accelerators and incubators, was announced by the Small Business Administration this morning. These prizes will give the winning organizations additional capital and ultimately assist promising start-ups and entrepreneurs.

For more details on the competition, including competition rules and eligibility, please see the SBA’s announcement. Applications are due by June 3, 2016 and can be submitted through Challenge.gov.

Small Things Come In Big Packages

Posted on by
Reply

AnnSullivan new

May 2016 WIPP Works In Washington

Small Things Come In Big Packages

By Ann Sullivan, WIPP Government Relations Team

 

In an epic week fueled by bipartisanship, the Senate Small Business Committee and the House Armed Services Committee put small business issues front and center in a way that was nothing short of amazing. This just goes to show that the “do-nothing Congress” does in fact do plenty when it comes to small business.

Let’s first talk about the Senate Small Business Committee. Members of the Committee introduced and are expected to pass three bills important to WIPP. One bill would extend the Small Business and Innovative Research program (SBIR) and a related program the Small Business Technology Transfer program (STTR) and included a mandate to do better outreach to women and minorities (thanks to Michigan’s Senator Gary Peters). The government funds innovative products and services through federal grants to bring the products to commercialization. Don’t know about it—look into it at: SBIR.gov. By the way, this is part of WIPP’s access to capital platform – so another accomplishment for our advocacy.

Are you a contractor? Then you might be interested in the introduction of The Small Business Transforming America’s Regions Act of 2016. If you aren’t aware of the HUBZone program, you should look into it. The government gives a bid preference to companies who invest in low-income areas. It could supplement the WOSB program you already belong to. At least check it out at SBA’s HUBZone Page.

Need capital? The Committee is expected to modernize the Microloan Program administered by the SBA. The program lends $50,000 and below to companies who need capital. In case you didn’t know it, there is a whole nationwide network of lenders who stand ready to lend, backed by the government’s guarantee against failure.

Now onto the House Armed Services Committee. This Committee and its counterpart, the Senate Armed Services Committee, prepare a bill each year, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that funds all military operations. It is a must-pass bill because the military requires certainty in funding. In order for the US to keep its competitiveness, it must have a strong and diverse industrial base. That’s where small businesses come in.

To that end, a whole section of the bill is devoted to small business contracting changes and strengthening resources for women entrepreneurs including women’s business centers. The bill:

 

  • Requires an annual report on the share of contract dollars awarded to small businesses without any exclusions
  • Establishes a pilot program that enables contractors to receive a past performance rating by submitting a request to the contracting officer and/or prime contractor
  • Requires the SBA to develop a list of no-cost programs that assist small businesses in compliance with Federal regulations.
  • Strengthens agency small business offices to recommend which small business set-aside programs should be used for each contract at their agency.
  • Requires commercial market representatives (CMRs) to assist prime contractors in identifying small business subcontractors and assess the prime’s compliance with their subcontracting plans
  • Adds HUBZone and SDVOSB to small business office oversight (previously not listed in statute but already happening in practice)

 

In case you do not remember, the Women’s Business Center reforms would raise the funding authorization level by 50% from $14.5M to $21.75M and increase grants to individual centers as well as streamline the program. Better program, better training for women.

How did all of this happen? Champions. The leadership of the House Small Business Committee, which passed the provisions now part of the NDAA, worked together hand-in-glove to assist our businesses. Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH) and Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) set the gold standard of getting things done without a partisan fuss. Similarly, the Senate Small Business Committee, under the guidance of Chair David Vitter (R-LA) and Ranking Member Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) worked together to introduce reforms good for small businesses.

The real story behind all of this activity is the power of small businesses uniting to ask for changes in contracting and better resources to succeed. Organizations, such as WIPP are the champions, walking the halls of Congress to press for better programs and fairness in contracting.

While I would agree that Congress is more partisan than ever before, there are bright spots. This past week was certainly one—all made possible by elected officials crossing party lines for the good of women-owned companies. If you ever wondered what your WIPP membership is paying for or if you need a reason to join WIPP, look no further. The advocacy WIPP provides on your behalf is the best return on investment you may ever find. It requires almost none of your time, requires a minimal monetary investment (dues) and you get a whole team dedicated to advancing your agenda to the Congress on a daily basis.

I call that value.

 

Access to Angel Investors Just Got Easier

Posted on by
Reply

By: Jake Clabaugh, WIPP Government Relations

AI

Seeking to clear up a gray area triggering securities registration, the House of Representatives passed The Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act pushed by Small Business Committee Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH).

Pitch events or demo days are common methods for business owners to showcase their companies and products to a room full of investors. Right now, there is confusion about whether these events are allowed because the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules prohibit “general solicitations.” The HALOS Act would clarify that pitch events hosted by angel investors are not general solicitations and do not require securities registration – a complex and expensive process for both angel investors and companies seeking investment.

Angel investment is particularly important for women-owned businesses. Recent data indicates that one in four angel-backed companies are led by women. The number of women-led companies receiving angel investments has increased by 234% in just the last decade. Since women-owned businesses receive only 4% of conventional small business loan dollars, it is vital to cultivate other sources of capital.

This bill will now move onto the Senate for consideration. WIPP will continue to engage Members of Congress on access to capital issues. An additional recommendation in WIPP’s access to capital platform, Breaking the Bank, urges Congress to incentivize angel investments with tax credits.

 

 

Entrepreneurs Win at House Small Business Committee Markup

Posted on by
Reply

By: Jake Clabaugh, WIPP Government Relations

32cc090e-78c0-46b6-8130-e810a45a4029WIPP’s access to capital platform, Breaking the Bank, continues to gain traction in Congress as two more priorities cleared the House Small Business Committee during this morning’s markup. The Commercializing on Small Business Innovation Act provides much needed improvements to the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs. These programs provide funding for small businesses to innovate through research and development partnerships with federal agencies. WIPP’s platform advocates for a public-private partnership to accelerate the commercialization of technologies developed through the SBIR & STTR programs and the bill passed today does just that. The Commercialization Assistance Pilot Program will allow small businesses to receive additional funding to assist entrepreneurs with bringing their products to market after completing the program.

Women’s Business Centers (WBCs) are an invaluable resource for the 10 million women entrepreneurs in the country who annually contribute $1.4 trillion to the nation’s economy. Legislation to reauthorize this program, the Women’s Small Business Ownership Act of 2015, was cleared by the Senate Committee on Small Business last fall and now the House Committee has followed suit. The Developing the Next Generation of Small Businesses Act of 2016 provides much needed updates to the WBC program including expanding annual authorized funding to $21.75 million and increasing the grants available to centers that provide training and counseling to entrepreneurs.

We would like to thank Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), and Representative Judy Chu (D-CA) for prioritizing women entrepreneurs and passing both pieces legislation with bipartisan, unanimous votes.

 

 

 

Venture Capital Pool Opens for Women Entrepreneurs

Posted on by
Reply

By: Jake Clabaugh, WIPP Government Relations

VCIf you are an entrepreneur seeking capital, the path to venture funding could be getting a little easier. Earlier this month, the House Financial Services Committee took action on two bills that make venture investments more attainable for entrepreneurs – The Helping Angels Lead Our Startups (HALOS) Act and the Main Street Growth Act. As women entrepreneurs only receive 7% of venture dollars, improving access to venture capital is a top priority in the women’s business community.

Due to ambiguities in the law, pitch events or demo days that are sponsored by angel investors may or may not be legal. Yet, these events are a great opportunity for entrepreneurs to get themselves – and their products – in front of a room full of potential investors. The HALOS Act makes this easier by clarifying this ambiguity. Currently, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) prohibits “general advertising” and “general solicitation,” but the HALOS act would clarify that these events are permitted for groups of angel investors and not subject to the prohibition on general solicitations. The bill’s sponsor, House Small Business Committee Chair Steve Chabot (R-OH), remarked, “clarifying the law to give entrepreneurs and investors more certainty and opportunity is a step in the right direction.”

To further incentivize investment, The Main Street Growth Act (H.R. 4638) will create securities exchanges specifically for venture capital investments. Existing stock exchanges could create a new tier to specialize in venture capital investments or entirely new exchanges could be established. These securities exchanges will bring together buyers and sellers of venture capital and create a more liquid market, which will incentivize investors to support startups.

While no single policy change or piece of legislation will break down the barriers that prevent women entrepreneurs from accessing capital, these incremental improvements show that Congress is committed to leveling the playing field for women entrepreneurs. WIPP’s access to capital platform, Breaking the Bank, continues to gain traction with legislators and WIPP is dedicated to growing women entrepreneurs’ share of venture capital funding.

SEC Finalizes Equity Crowdfunding Rules Opening the Door to Additional Capital for Small Businesses

Posted on by
Reply

crowdfundingCrowdfunding is not new to businesses.  You have likely seen or participated in campaigns to help companies bring their idea to market or to grow their business.  In return for a small investment, you receive a product, gift or service in exchange.  This is known as rewards-based crowdfunding, which began to become a viable avenue for raising funds for businesses in 2009 with the launch of a number of crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter and Indiegogo.

With new rules from the SEC, crowdfunding is now getting an upgrade.  Equity crowdfunding allows a business to seek capital from a diverse group of investors through a “funding portal” and provides investors with an equity stake or stock in the business. Crowdfunding transactions are exempt from the complex and expensive securities registration process. These transactions could be a simpler equity financing option for small businesses; however, the total costs that small firms will incur from a crowdfunding offering are still unclear.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), who oversees the process, issued a long-awaited final rule on equity crowdfunding that will be effective January 29, 2016.  Highlights of the new requirement include:

  • Small businesses can raise up to $1 million in a twelve-month period and must disclose:
    • Financial statements
    • How the proceeds from the offering will be used
    • Corporate officers and directors
  • Limits the amount an investor can spend to:
    • Greater of $2,000 or 5% of their annual income or net worth (whichever is less) if both are below $100,000
    • 10% of their annual income or net worth (whichever is less) if both are equal to or more than $100,000
    • A total of $100,000 aggregate investments during a 12-month period
  • Requires funding portals to register with the Financial Industry Regulatory authority (FINRA) and:
    • Provide educational materials on how the funding portal operates
    • Disclose how the portal is compensated
    • Provide disclosures from the offering business

WIPP has been a strong advocate for finalized crowdfunding rules, having included the priority in the recently issued Access to Capital Platform. The SEC’s rule will allow small businesses to raise capital through investment without triggering federal securities laws and registration requirements.

For more information, please see SEC Chair Mary Jo White’s statement on Crowdfunding regulation.

Additional resources:

3 Ways Employee Policies Can Protect Your Business

Posted on by
Reply

K Prinz

By Kristen Prinz, Founder and Managing Partner of The Prinz Law Firm

A study by specialty insurer Hiscox was recently published finding that U.S.-based companies have at least an 11.7 percent chance of facing an employment law charge. The study claims that the average cost for small and mid-sized businesses to defend these claims is $125,000. That’s a lot of money. It makes having effective employee policies all the more important.

On November 16, 2015, at 1:00 pm CST, I will be presenting the webinar 10 Employee Policies that Minimize Business Risk for WIPP and the WBDC. Participants will learn about 10 policies that can help businesses avoid the $125,000 average. Here are three ways that these polices can help protect your business:

  1. Address claims before they become lawsuits.

Employee policies can provide employees with an internal method to resolve a potential claim. Businesses can use policies to encourage and require that concerns about discrimination, harassment or even wage issues be reported. Knowing the concerns of your employees puts an organization in a much better position to swiftly resolve an issue that could otherwise become a lawsuit.

  1. Show the government your business is committed to compliance.

Having anti-discrimination and anti-retaliation policies shows the EEOC that your business has taken a stance against discrimination and retaliation. Similarly, an effective time keeping policy can show the DOL that your business is taking appropriate steps to comply with wage laws. These policies can bolster a defense when an agency audits your business or investigates a claim.

  1. Create a positive workplace culture.

Your business shouldn’t just have policies; it should abide by them and enforce them. Having well publicized policies that demonstrate your business’s dedication to a positive workplace is one of the best ways to deter employment law claims. Employees are far less likely to sue an employer they believe supports and values them.

To learn about the 10 policies that can help your business (i) address claims before they become lawsuits, (ii) show the government your business is committed to compliance, and (iii) create a positive workplace culture, register now for the WIPP and WBDC webinar 10 Employee Policies that Minimize Business Risk.