How a Bad Loan Agreement Taught Me About Good Financing

Years ago, I was working at a portfolio company in full-blown transformation mode. We were doing the works: culture reboot, operations overhaul, IT system upgrades. This was the kind of stuff that makes consultants salivate and employees panic. Then one day, the CEO looked at me and said, “Hey, while you’re at it, I want you to also lead Accounting and Finance.”

Sure, ok. After all, he was my boss.  

As I rolled up my sleeves and dove into accounts receivable and collections, I expected to find late-paying customers and some outdated processes. What I didn’t expect was to find a ticking financial time bomb buried in the company’s loan agreement.

Let’s just say, the covenants were so tight, I’m pretty sure we needed the bank’s permission just to buy paperclips. The interest rate wasn’t much better. It was high enough to make payday lenders blush. And yet, somehow, this loan had been accepted as “normal.” Why? Because the bank had a longstanding relationship with ownership. It was like a bad marriage, no one wanted to leave because they still shared a Netflix password.

From a business standpoint, we were getting ripped off. It was death by a thousand tiny clauses. But ownership wouldn’t consider switching lenders. 

That experience stuck with me. It was a crash course in what not to do with business financing.

It taught me that in business and real estate, financing isn’t just a piece of the puzzle. It is the puzzle. Capital drives opportunity, and flexibility drives growth. If you don’t have the right lending terms or access to capital that fits your strategy, you’re just treading water and probably in concrete boots.

That’s why I’ve made it a priority to build strong relationships with private lenders, alternative capital providers, and brokers. My goal is to offer clients a broad spectrum of financing solutions tailored to their unique needs, whether they’re scaling, stabilizing, or seizing a growth opportunity. It’s not just about getting a loan but about getting the right loan, from the right source, at the right time.

Because let’s be honest. The best financing isn’t the one with the nicest logo or the longest relationship. It’s the one that helps you sleep at night and build the business you actually want.

So next time someone hands you a loan agreement, do yourself a favor: read the fine print… and maybe check if they’re charging you for paperclips.

Better financing starts with a conversation.
Let’s connect. The right loan can unlock your next big move. 

Because you shouldn’t need permission to buy paperclips.