Only 46% of small businesses have capital to execute growth strategy--and banks aren't lending

It’s a common trope in today’s economy: small businesses are driving economic growth. For agents and brokers, small business comprises a significant portion of their commercial business.

Yet in a recent study conducted by Pepperdine University (2014 Private Capital Markets Project), while nearly 89% of the owners of small, privately held businesses are enthusiastic about executing growth strategies, only 46% report having the necessary capital resources to successfully execute them. Among the smallest businesses (less than $5 million in revenue) that sought bank loans in the previous three months, only 39% successfully secured a loan. It is also quite common for these small company owners to be turned down for loans and not know exactly the reasons why.