Small Banks More Likely to Give Businesses the Funds They Need, Fed Says Business owners were more positive in 2015, but cash flow and retaining good employees remain large concerns.
By Nina Zipkin
Small-business owners seeking funding are better off going to small banks, according to a recent report by the Federal Reserve.
Small banks provided some of the financing to 76 percent of small businesses while large banks approved loans for 58 percent of those that applied.
Related: 8 Ways to Build Your Company's Credit
The recent report from the Federal Reserve Banks of New York, Atlanta, Cleveland, Philadelphia, St. Louis, Boston and Richmond, Va., laid out the current state of small-business financing, lending and access to credit and capital. The 2015 Small Business Credit Survey polled 3,500 small businesses from 26 states. Respondents said they've seen improvements in 2015 in revenue, profitability and job growth over 2014.
Forty seven percent of small businesses that took part in a Federal Reserve study, most of which are in professional services and real estate, reported that they had sought financing within the last 12 months. Half of the applicants said that they were approved for the amount they applied for.
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Related: 4 Ways to Strategically Use New Funding to Boost Your Small Business
Startups that had been around for anywhere up to two years, or companies that were bringing in less than $100,000 a year (classified as microbusinesses), reported that they ran into issues with getting the financing they need. Sixty three percent of microbusinesses and 58 percent of startups reported experiencing credit shortfalls.
When it comes to the inherent trials involved in keeping a business afloat, 22 percent of those businesses polled said that cash flow was the biggest challenge they were facing, while 24 percent of growing companies cited hiring and keeping on the best employees as a number-one priority. Sixty three percent of respondents said that they held debt.
For more about business financing and credit, check out the full report here.
