Guides Entrepreneurs To Needed Cash

(Riverwoods, ILL., October 7, 1998) -- "Cash is king" in many areas, and nowhere more so than in getting a small business off the ground and keeping it flying through the rough weather that small ventures often encounter, according to CCH INCORPORATED, a leading provider of small business information and publisher of Small Business Financing -- How and Where to Get It.

"All entrepreneurs know that financing is critical, but many of them do not know about the full range of resources and opportunities for acquiring funds, or how to approach them successfully," said Alice Magos, the book’s editor and columnist for "Ask Alice" of CCH’s noted online service for small business, CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit.

Now available in bookstores nationwide, Small Business Financing -- How and Where to Get It provides practical guidance and useful tools for finding the cash that spells success or failure for a new small business. Plus, the helpful book is supplemented by online information, business services and guidance from the team of small office/home office experts who created CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit (www.toolkit.cch.com, AOL Keyword: CCH and Compuserve: Go CCH).

The book is edited by Alice Magos, an accountant and certified financial planner who draws on over 35 years of running and advising small businesses to answer entrepreneurs’ questions in her popular "Ask Alice" column. For this book, Alice puts together information and insight from the entire Business Owner’s Toolkit team of accountants, attorneys, consultants and business writers.

FINANCING PROFILE SUGGESTS SOURCES

Small Business Financing begins by helping entrepreneurs construct a financing profile. This includes identifying where their business stands in the typical business life cycle, determining how much cash is needed, examining how the legal form of their business influences financing and showing how a well-constructed business plan is used to attract lenders and investors.

As is true throughout the book, this section is filled with useful tools, such as a quick-pick chart for choosing financing sources, a model personal financial statement and a worksheet for estimating start-up costs. The often-confusing terminology of finance is carefully explained as each term is introduced, and the book contains a thorough glossary for ongoing reference.

FROM INSIDERS AND ANGELS TO IPOS

Business owners, their friends and families often provide the "insider" financing that gets new ventures off the ground. One possibility for expansion beyond that is to trade a slice of the pie for investor’s cash.

Small Business Financing explains how "business angels" can provide expertise as well as funds for fledgling enterprises. The roles of venture capital firms, initial public offerings (IPOs) and IPO alternatives for more mature businesses are also thoroughly explored.

TAKING IT TO THE BANK

For many businesses, debt financing is a necessary and desirable part of their business plan. CCH lays out all of the possible forms of debt financing, from conventional business loans and lines of credit to business credit cards. The pros and cons of dealing with large banks, community banks and finance companies all are considered.

Small Business Financing emphasizes finding the best "fit" between borrower and lender, urging business owners to select a lender who also can be a good source of advice, offering additional "smart money" services.

While the main emphasis is on conventional lending, other sources of debt financing, such as trade credit, factoring and sale/leaseback arrangements also are included in the how-to book.

INS AND OUTS OF THE SBA

Small Business Financing concludes with a comprehensive guide to the various programs of the Small Business Administration (SBA).

After explaining how SBA programs have evolved, CCH gives entrepreneurs the details of the popular "LowDoc" program, as well as the more conventional (and complex) Section 7(a) loan guarantees. The book also has information on the popular MicroLoan and unique DELTA programs, plus SBA-sponsored programs aimed especially at seasonal needs for working capital and at financing for bricks-and-mortar projects that result in job creation and preservation. Sample applications for several programs are included.

ONLINE HELP FROM THE AUTHORS

Small business owners are encouraged to use the book together with CCH’s full Internet service, CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit, and the experts who developed the site and created Small Business Financing.

CCH Business Owner’s Toolkit, which debuted in 1995, is constantly updated to ensure small businesses have quick access to current information. For example, the service includes daily news specifically geared toward the specialized needs of a small office/home office business owner.

In addition, the site offers Power Tools, special business services that can assist the business owner in preparing a successful plan. With Power Tools, users can learn more about competitors and ensure they can obtain a trademark for their product or service.

Entrepreneurs can think of Small Business Financing as a book they can talk to. The authors -- Alice Magos and an entire team of experienced CPAs, finance experts, attorneys and human resources consultants to small businesses -- are online and can respond to questions.

PRICING AND AVAILABILITY

Small Business Financing -- How and Where to Get It (210-pages, soft cover) is available in major bookstores nationwide, via the Business Owner’s Toolkit Book Store (http://www.toolkit.cch.com, AOL Keyword: CCH, CompuServe: Go CCH) or by calling 1-800-248-3248. Single copy price is $17.95, plus applicable shipping, handling or tax. Quantity discounts are available.

ABOUT CCH INCORPORATED

CCH INCORPORATED, headquartered in Riverwoods, Ill., was founded in 1913 and has served four generations of business professionals and their clients. The company produces more than 700 electronic and print products for the tax, legal, securities, human resources, health care and small business markets. CCH is a wholly owned subsidiary of Wolters Kluwer U.S.

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