Although your new business concept and business plan show terrific promise, even enough to convince your banker of the great potential, you may find it impossible to obtain traditional bank financing.Why? One or more of the 5 Cs of Credit (character, capacity, capital, collateral,...
As more and more commercial properties pepper northern Michigan's landscape, staunch competition dictates a closer look at the overall value in each property. Tenants have a choice to make and a budget to meet, and it's up to investors to meet their needs.Adding value to...
We've all had those eerie experiences when a co-worker went too far, said too much, got too loud. It might have been something as simple as a lost phone message or as important as a lost customer, but your co-worker reacted--overreacted."Desk rage" is a new...
TRAVERSE CITY - If you're in the market for a Rolex watch, your shopping just got easier.Federico's Design Jewelers in downtown Traverse City recently became one of less than 1,000 jewelers in the nation to be awarded the privilege of selling Rolex watches."It's been my...
GAYLORD - This month, First Federal of Northern Michigan, headquartered in Alpena, will open its ninth branch office at 1000 S. Wisconsin St. in Gaylord."In 1999 and 2000 we went through a strategic planning process and one of the goals was to become a dominant...
BELLAIRE - Joe Lange would have never imagined that starting his business out of the trunk of his car over 18 years ago would lead to the multi-million dollar company he now owns today--and growing!The foundation of his business began in Detroit over 18 years...
WILLIAMSBURG - Attention Harley owners: Vandy's Speed Shop, a new business providing aftermarket and performance accessories and service for Harley-Davidson motorcycles, opened on June 2.The shop, which is not a Harley-Davidson dealer, is located at 7960 M-72 East in Williamsburg in the old C&J Auto...
Lending rates for mortgages are now at the lowest point they have been at for several years. The "Fed" is trying to jump start the economy. Perhaps it's time for you to take advantage of the rates. After all, the government subsidizes the interest rate...
The passage of Michigan's Proposal A over six years ago affected the way the state collects many types of taxes. The changes ranged from the way we collected taxes on and for cigarettes, personal income, schools, property transfer fees, and sales tax to how taxes...
You know the story; college senior takes a class guaranteed to be a sure thing, an easy "A." Senior graduates and discovers that one class, more than any other, changes the course of his career.Steve Fritz was that senior at Ferris State University, completing a...
