Everyone knows the old saying: “You have to spend money to make money.” But when your business is already struggling, that phrase feels like a cruel joke. You look at the books and think, “There’s nothing left to spend. I can’t afford to take another risk.”  But let’s be honest—not taking a risk is what’s... Read More

A recent Bloomberg Law article, “Covid Loans That Boosted Businesses Now Push Them to Bankruptcy,” shines a spotlight on a troubling trend: the very pandemic relief meant to sustain small businesses is now contributing to their collapse. Businesses that took EIDL (Economic Injury Disaster Loan) funding, often with generous terms and deferred payments, are now... Read More

Introducing Profit and Peace – the new program from Investor Direct Funding and Cultivating Bricolage, helping business owners fix their numbers and their nerves.   Running a business is hard enough when things are going great, but when cash flow is tight, bills are piling up, and every decision feels urgent, stress can turn into a... Read More

When people think of business failure, they often picture companies that ran out of money or couldn’t compete with bigger rivals. But some of the most famous business failures in history didn’t happen because of lack of resources. They failed because they waited too long to act.  These stories may involve billion-dollar corporations, but the... Read More

From Struggling to Thriving: How One Business Went from Unsellable to Seven-Figure Valuation  Running a business can feel like walking a tightrope. High debt, thin margins, cash flow stress, and low profitability can all make it seem impossible to grow or even think about the future.  We specialize in turning businesses that are struggling, unfinanceable,... Read More

So, banks said no. Now what? Most business owners think they’ve got a short list of options:  Yeah…none of those sound great. But here’s the kicker: High interest loans—the ones that promise “fast cash”—might feel like a lifeline, but they’re usually a straight-up trap.  Why MCA Loans Are a Nightmare  If your cash flow is... Read More

Why don’t banks lend to businesses that need money? That’s a question I have been asked many times and wondered for the first several years of my business life.  There is a secret formula they use to determine who is eligible for a loan.  It’s a compounded answer to make things a bit more difficult. ... Read More

Over the past few weeks, we’ve shared practical ways to safeguard your business and personal assets when facing judgments, tax liens, and lawsuits. From incorporation to working strategically with secured parties, the goal has been the same: position yourself so you can negotiate from strength, not desperation. In this final installment, we’ll cover a couple... Read More

In Part 2, we talked about the importance of incorporating and protecting yourself through proper structure and secured lending. But incorporation is only one layer of defense. Another key to surviving judgments, tax liens, and lawsuits is knowing how to work with secured creditors, especially your bank. Many business owners see the bank as the... Read More

Every entrepreneur faces risks—some visible, some hidden. While most think their business is untouchable, the reality is that judgments, tax liens, and lawsuits are common hurdles that can threaten even the most careful business owner. The key isn’t to fear them—it’s to plan and protect yourself before they become a problem. Understanding the rules and... Read More