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Forums » Private & Conventional Lending Discussion » Unsecured credit lines

Unsecured credit lines Subscribe to Unsecured credit lines

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Residential Real Estate Agent · houston, Texas


Hello, has anyone had experience with Tom Kish or Dave Candle(Credit Card Builders) with obtaining unsecured business lines of credit.


Real Estate Investor · Memphis, Tennessee


I have not. However, when you type in their names in Google, it is not a good sign when the word "scam" is included in the search. I have found that almost all these type offers that sound to good to be true, they usually are. Nothing comes easy.

Small_turnkeyhighresAlex Craig, Memphis Turnkey Properties
E-Mail: alex@lainerei.com
Telephone: 901-848-9028
Website: http://www.memphisturnkey.com
Better Properties. Better Areas. Better Investments.


Rehabber · Tucson, Arizona


Building business credit is a slow process but worthwhile in the long run. I personally use and have used creditboards.com in the past six months months and went from zero tradelines to several very quickly. It is much like this site, informative and free.

I have paid for credit guru's before and they did not live up to the hype. Unsecured business credit is the holy grail of business goals but I can tell you from experience they you need time in business, adequate tradelines, financial statements, and a good banking relationship. Do not let your in patience lead you down the wrong path.


Real Estate Investor · Denver, Colorado


Here's my 6 easy steps to a million dollar business line of credit.

A business line of credit is tricky if you're a real estate investor. The first problem is that you can't actually say that you're a real estate investor when you apply. Banks hate real estate investors. They think we're all evil flippers. Darn you, evil flippers for ruining it for us.

I remember last year when I still had my mortgage company an account rep from a local bank came in with all these flyers about getting a business line of credit. I was really excited thinking this may be a great solution for my real estate investor clients. But then I read the fine print.

*No applications will be accepted from strip clubs or real estate investors.

Wow. Now we're lumped in there with the poor guy that wants to buy a new stripper pole. And if you need a new stripper pole, that's a purchase you shouldn't delay.

The second problem is that you really must have a seasoned company that has documented cash flow. It's not as easy as the scammers say it is. You can't just form an LLC online and then start applying (and getting) business lines of credit all over the place. Like anything, it's a process.

And even though you won't walk into a bank and walk out with a million dollar line to buy a big package of properties, there is a way you can build up to that. Here's the process in a nutshell:

Form a Corporation.
I have LLC's some guys favor C corps and still others like S corps. Check with your accountant to see which is best for you. There are some companies out there that will sell you seasoned "shelf-corporations" for several thousand dollars. That's fine if you want to go that way but it won't get you big lines off the bat because they aren't cash-flowing corporations. I personally think they're a rip.

Get a Tax ID
Also known as an Employer Identification Number of EIN you can get this online for free from the IRS website.

Get a DUNS number from Dun & Bradstreet
D&B is to business credit like FICO is to personal credit. They rate your company and your vendors report to them. Get signed up at http://www.dnb.com

Your goal is to build your "Paydex" number. Your goal should be a Paydex of 80.

Get a Few 30-Day Business Credit Accounts
The easiest way to start building your business credit is with 30-day accounts. Places like FedEx, Office Depot, Home Depot and Kinko's will give you a business credit account. It's a like a charge account. Charge something each month and pay it off each month.

Get a Business Credit Card
Once you have a few months of this under your belt, apply for a business credit card such as Discover or American Express.

Get a Small Line of Credit
Then after a year or so when your Paydex is close to 80, and your business has some positive, cash-flowing financials that you can show the banker, you have a good shot at an unsecured line of credit of $25,000 - $50,000.

Get a Big Line of Credit
Behave responsibly with that and the bank will continue to increase your line.

And there you have it - my 6 easy steps to a million dollar business line of credit. Is this as easy as it sounds? Kinda. Is it guaranteed? No. Nothing in life really is. But if you show that you have cash flow in your corporation, you're head and shoulders above the rest. Cash flow is key.

So, get out there and start building your business credit. And for God's sake if there's a strip club owner that needs a new pole, help him out. It's the least you can do.


Real Estate Investor · Verne, Indiana


Susan, what is your take on lenders asking for a Personal Guarantee? I have found some lenders make it a requirement, either way, doesn't that (giving a lender your PG) take away from the "so called" Corporate Veil for legal purposes and the separation of entities (personal and business)? Thanks


Banker · Tampa Area, Florida


Originally posted by David Sanders
Susan, what is your take on lenders asking for a Personal Guarantee? I have found some lenders make it a requirement, either way, doesn't that (giving a lender your PG) take away from the "so called" Corporate Veil for legal purposes and the separation of entities (personal and business)? Thanks


keep in mind that businesses are entitites. businesses don't screw up, the people that run them do! personal guarantees are a necessity in my book....but hey, i'm just a banker :)


Real Estate Investor · Denver, Colorado


I don't have a problem with a PG. Most decent lines will require it. Ones that don't are usually small or the terms are inferior.


SFR Investor · Long Beach, California


Originally posted by David Sanders
Susan, what is your take on lenders asking for a Personal Guarantee? I have found some lenders make it a requirement, either way, doesn't that (giving a lender your PG) take away from the "so called" Corporate Veil for legal purposes and the separation of entities (personal and business)? Thanks

With the typical disclaimer of check with a qualified attorney, a personal guarantee does not pierce the veil because it is between you (your company) and the lender. Co mingling funds between business and personal and failure to comply with requirements and filings will result in losing your protection.


Rehabber · Santa Clarita, California


Originally posted by David Sanders
Susan, what is your take on lenders asking for a Personal Guarantee? I have found some lenders make it a requirement, either way, doesn't that (giving a lender your PG) take away from the "so called" Corporate Veil for legal purposes and the separation of entities (personal and business)? Thanks
Giving a PG does not subject you to the potential piercing of the corporate veil. Comingling personal monies with the business monies, not properly conforming to your corporate requirements (minutes, filings, etc) and managing the entity in a negligent manner are ways your corporate veil are most easily pierced.

This is not to be construed as legal advice and you should consult your attonrey as I am not one.

Small_barnardenterprisesWill Barnard, Barnard Enterprises, Inc.
E-Mail: info@barnardenterprises.com
Website: http://www.barnardenterprises.com
info@barnardenterprises.com




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