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When Bill and Peggy Kensi took over Royal Laundry of Texas Inc.in 1996, the company was breaking even with sales of approximately$500,000. With some focused marketing efforts, the potential thecouple had seen in the business quickly materialized from suchcustomers as Electronic Data Systems Corp., American Airlines and alarge, local hospital group.

To answer the growing demand, the Kensis needed newequipment--and lots of it. Unfortunately, the cost of thedry-cleaning machines, automated folders and high-speed irons theyrequired totaled about $500,000.

The Kensis tried to get a loan from several local banks but wererejected and referred to the SBA. Unfortunately, the SBA'stimeline for loan approval was too lengthy for the Kensis, whoneeded their new equipment quickly. "Even though the businesswas almost 10 years old when we sought the loans, in the eyes ofthe bankers, it was technically a start-up because we had recentlypurchased it," Bill says. "None of them was willing tofinance a company that [in their eyes] was less than 2 yearsold."