ARDMORE, Pa. — Things go a lot easier when potential lenders, suppliers and partners can decide to take a risk based on a dry cleaning business’ credit history and capability of repaying obligations. With strong business credit, a business can borrow at a lower cost, with more favorable terms. In fact, many small dry cleaners with good business credit have discovered it is possible get loans without an onerous and often embarassing personal guarantee.
Obviously, business credit is quite difficult to get. For any small dry cleaning business owner, navigating the credit and lending world can feel like a vicious Catch-22. Most commercial banks and traditional lenders are reluctant to loosen their purse strings until would-be borrowers have proven themselves with a strong credit history. But it’s difficult to develop that good record when no one will lend in the first place.
IN THE BEGINNING
When a business issues or extends credit to another business, it’s referred to as “trade” credit. Trade, or business, credit is the single largest source of lending in the world.
