The Banker

When you open any form of business with a bank, you can usually call upon the training and expertise of its professionals to help you start and build your enterprise.

You should tell him/her about your business idea at early stage. Be as open and cooperative as possible in providing information about the amount you may need to get started, the time period of the loan, the background for your company, and any financial statements you have gathered.

The more information you provide the easier it will be to deal with the bank and receive the desired service. Remember, bankers do not like high-risk situations! Make a list of questions to ask your banker, such as the following:

How may I arrange a line of credit?
Who approves the loans?
What are your lending limits?
What is your opinion of the industry I plan to enter?
What advice can you give me with respect to my business plan?

Shop around for a bank and banker with whom you are comfortable. Financial institutions need your business and will generally try to assist you in any way they can. Bankers can help you with operating loans, financing plans, cash management, letters of credit, leasing assets etc.

Bankers, too, have a code of ethics they must follow developed by bankers association. There are many government regulations that oblige them to protect privacy and confidentiality of your financial affairs (except for income-tax information to government authorities on demand). It's important to know that if you need to use expertise of bank account manager, you may be charged a nominal fee determined by the amount of time you spend with the account manager.

Marketing Management - This worldwide best-selling book highlights trends and developments in global marketing-with an emphasis on the importance of teamwork between marketing and all the other functions of the business. It introduces new perspectives in successful strategic market planning, and presents additional company examples of creative, market-focused, and customer-driven action. Coverage includes a focus on customer relationship management, partner relationship management, the Internet and its effects and uses, brand building and brand asset management, alternative go-to-market channels, and marketing around the globe.

How to Really Start Your Own Business - W.D.Bygrave, professor of entrepreneurship, Babson College "Gumpert's how-to book is simply the best. No would-be entrepreneur should launch a business before reading this book."