The appeal of accelerating growth by consolidating with another company is universal. Businesses of all sizes and in all industries consider mergers and acquisitions (M&As) as a means to achieve scale.

Business acquisition loans empower companies to expand, diversify, and enhance operational efficiency. They also present many complexities, both in acquisition opportunities and financing. As you evaluate a path forward, it’s important to find the right capital structure to ensure a smooth transition and unlock growth potential.

Powering Business Growth

When your business is positioned to scale or diversify operations, merging with or acquiring an existing business can streamline access...

Financial returns and social responsibility are no longer mutually exclusive. Impact investing has quickly emerged as a compelling opportunity to prioritize sustainability and public interest alongside profits.

For many socially curious individuals, impact investing raises more questions than it answers. What is considered impact? Can it be quantified? Should it earn a place in your portfolio?

What Is Impact Investing?

Impact investing is a means of generating financial returns through initiatives that result in positive social and environmental impact. Although this practice is relatively new, it echoes the core motivation of philanthropy to leverage capital for the welfare of others.

I...

When an idea strikes for a new business venture, there’s a frenzied excitement to answer unknowns. What will it look like? What will it be called? How will it fill a gap in the market? Does it solve a problem?

One of the last questions to answer is: How will you fund it? Start-up capital is essential for initial operational costs such as rent, equipment, inventory, and labor—all things your business will need to build steady revenue streams. It establishes a foundation for sustained growth and expansion, but few entrepreneurs have this capital readily available.

Business start-up loans provide the necessary capital to finance new ventures of all kinds, and understanding the option...

Growth is the lifeblood of any business. With the Small Business Administration (SBA) 504 Loan Program—which fosters business growth, job creation, and community development—you can achieve your potential. This unique offering provides a clear path for businesses looking to expand while keeping working capital in hand.

The SBA 504 Loan Program

SBA 504 loans are distinct from the more well-known SBA 7(a). At their core, 504 loans provide long-term, fixed-rate financing for assets such as real estate or machinery necessary for businesses to expand or modernize.

SBA 504 loans are structured in two parts:

• A conventional mortgage financed by a third-party lender, in most cases for 50 perc...

DiamondBL.com has moved and expanded to 5546 W Pico Blvd in Los Angeles, CA 90019. Face-to-face meetings still require an appointment in an abundance of caution with CDC guidelines.

https://www.bai.org/banking-strategies/article-detail/marijuana-banks-and-the-perils-of-a-growing-business

CEO Alexandra Dickinson suggests these 3 tips to be so much better at” asking for — and getting — anything you want.”

1. Prepare with research--
"You want to do your homework and do some bench-marking," Dickinson says. The research step is important because it will help you determine your focus. "You have to know what you are willing to give on, and what is top priority for you," she says.
2. Hone in on what you want--
The second step is about strategy. "You need to be crystal clear on what you are asking for," Dickinson says. For example, if you're trying to negotiate your salary, you can't just say "I'd like a raise." Clarify your goal with numbers.
3. Ask respectfully--...

1. One of the most creative geniuses of the 20th century, Walt Disney, was once fired from a newspaper because he “lacked creativity.” His first animation company Laugh-O-Gram films eventually was forced to close as well. Desperate and out of money, Disney found his way to Hollywood and faced even more criticism and failure until finally, his first few classic films started to skyrocket in popularity.

2.Steve Jobs was booted from his own company and had a comeback from an almost irrecoverable failure. Jobs found success in his 20s when Apple became a massive empire, but when he was 30, Apple’s board of directors decided to fire him. Jobs founded a new company, NeXT, which wa...

1. Get comfortable with the cost of deciding-- Understand that refusing to decide is a decision, and it means sticking with the status quo. Indecision indicates one of three things: fear, concern over past mistakes, or a lack of information.

2. Control your emotions-- emotional decisions can have long-term repercussions.

3. Know what you want-- Business success comes from knowing your desired outcome. You need a laser-beam focus on what you want to create. Never lose sight of your target or goal.

4. Do your homework-- Don't make decisions based solely on emotions and gut instinct. Do as much due diligence as you can, and the rest will be intuitive.

5. Build an A-Team-- Seek valued input, insight...

According to Adam Grant, organizational psychologist, top-rated professor at Wharton business school-- The less you care about your own success, the more successful you will be. "One of the things that stands out for me when I think about what distinguishes the greatest leaders of our time, is that success is very rarely a goal for them, it's a byproduct of other goals that they have," says Grant. The most meaningful way to succeed is to help others succeed, to advance a vision or an idea or a project that is bigger than one person. Grant says: "…the bigger you aim there, the more you focus on doing something that's going to benefit others, the more likely you are to produce something...