Access to Capital: Know Your Options and Your Numbers

Learn how business financing works, what lenders evaluate, and how your revenue, expenses, and cash flow affect your ability to borrow. About This Workshop Access to capital begins with understanding your options - and knowing whether your business is financially ready. This practical workshop is designed for both aspiring entrepreneurs preparing to launch and existing business owners seeking financing for growth. Participants will explore loans, microloans, grants, and alternative sources of capital while learning what lenders actually evaluate when reviewing a financing request. You will examine the relationship between business revenue, expenses, cash flow, loan payments, and borrowing capacity. You will also learn how to calculate Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), one of the key measurements lenders use to determine whether a business can afford additional debt. This is not simply a presentation about where to find money. You will leave with a clearer understanding of which financing options realistically fit your business and what you need to strengthen before applying. What You Will Learn By the end of this workshop, participants will be able to: • Understand loans, microloans, grants, and alternative financing • Identify what lenders evaluate when reviewing a financing request • Calculate Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR) • Connect business revenue and expenses to borrowing capacity • Identify the most realistic financing path for their business Who Should Attend This workshop is designed for: • Aspiring entrepreneurs preparing to start a business • New business owners building their financial foundation • Existing businesses seeking financing for expansion • Business owners who have been denied financing or are unsure whether they qualify • Entrepreneurs who want to understand their numbers before approaching a lender About the Instructor Monty Williams is a Workplace Financial Solutions Consultant with Associated Bank. He provides practical financial education and helps individuals, businesses, nonprofits, and community organizations strengthen their financial understanding and make informed decisions. His approach connects financial knowledge with confident decision-making, long-term stability, and access to appropriate financial resources.