Member Spotlight
This week's spotlight is Jeff Sutherlin.  Please keep this member top of mind this week for referrals. 

Meeting Update
Nov 18 - Grabrielle Loomas, Wheel of Balance (Your friends, family, career - what is missing, complete)
Dec 2 - Bring money!  Phyllis Prater is going to help you get a head start on your holiday shopping.
Dec 9 - Guest speaker Dr. Sarah Tracy.  She will discuss the finer points of happiness. 

Business Etiquette
Cubical Rules:  Don't prairie dog. Give private time.  Don't chime in on conversations.  Keep your lunch in the kitchen.

Casual Dress Etiquette: Demystify it.

Having business lunch with someone and notice their fly is down - What do you do? Tell him or her discreetly.

How important is a hand shake - A prospective employee with the best hand shake is more likely to get the job.

Guest Etiquette - Introduce to everybody. Be friendly and responsive to them.

What do you do if you get an angry phone call from customer?  Bite your tongue.  A bad attitude will only make it worse.  They need to vent some steam.  Bring it down a notch.

Most offensive things coworkers can do at the work place:  Gossip.  Bad Hygiene.  Swearing.  98% believe it is to steal other people's food from the refrigerator.

Who writes personal notes to clients?  It is one of the most important thing to do, state the point of the note.  Explain further. Make sure they know you want to further relationship.

Business dining etiquette...

• Keep alcohol level down

• Don't order first.

• Don't order desert unless client does,

• Never talk with mouth full.

• Come prepared with a few topics in mind to avoid silent moment.

• Always be kind to the wait staff.

• Know your lunch partner's business.

• Put some thought into choosing the right restaurant.  (Not to cheap or expensive)

Keep up your great manners.

Guest Speaker - Kevin Mohler, IFG - "Alternative Finance"
Challenging Times For Small Businesses

Current State - Headlines - Who's Making More Small-Businss Loans Now? 

You may be surprised.  Banks, in my opinion, are always your first stop.  The bankers are phenomenal people but their hands may be cuffed.

Why is Financing Important?  To start of grow a business.

Where do you go first?

• Your own savings

• your own retirement

• Your friends

• Your own home equity

• Other funds

When growth exceed capital

• Visit your banker

• Apply for home equity loam

• Apply for commercial grants/loans

• Apply for SBA loan

• Apply for bus loan

What are are bankers looking for?

• Business Plan

• Source of Repayment

• Company Balance Sheet

• Company Income Statement

• Personal Statement of Net Worth

• Personal and Company Tax Information

What are the Alternative?

• Angel invest or Venture Capital Companies

• Asset-Based Leaders

• Purchase Order Financing Companies

• Equipment Leasing Companies

• factoring Companies

• Invoice Discounting Companies

About IFG

We provide working capital small business -

• Provide short-term, working capital for growing small businesses in the B2B market

• Purchase invoices as a discount on an as-requested basis (Invoice Discounting)

• Our client get the cash up-front.  IFG takes over the remaining terms of the receivable.

• IFG clients come through referral sources such as banks, brokers, commercial credit services.

What we don't do -

• Not a collecting agency

• Don't lend money

• Don't buy bad debts

What they want to see -

• An established customer (even if short-term)

• Multiple clients