“We learned how to support each other and function better as a team. We learned how to stay true to our core values – even when the going was tough. We did what we needed to do.”

“It’s not supposed to be easy to get a loan. To cope with a once-a-century pandemic, the government deliberately stripped out many of the traditional checks and balances in the EIDL program and made changes to the SBA program. And now, many business owners are at risk of defaulting.”

“Our relationships with our banks often fit into the I-got-complacent category. It’s worth checking on it.  There’s a good chance you are leaving cash on the table.”

“Would you rather work with a lender with relevant expertise or one still figuring things out? I assume you would answer the same way you would if you were picking a surgeon.”

“When we started, we used Wells Fargo. Philosophically, I didn’t like working with a big bank. I never thought I was important to them, but I also never prioritized making a change.”

"You may be able to pick up talent for your company that you would never have dreamed about getting during a strong economy."

"It seems these owners did not squander their EIDL on anything criminal, but they got used to a new comfort zone and used the money to pay salaries and other expenses. They got used to having the extra cash, but it didn’t help them grow the business."