Articles

Everyone has a story. At Dakota Business Lending, we’ve had the opportunity to hear and be a part of hundreds of stories from small businesses throughout the state. Whether their stories are long, short, challenging, easy, inspiring, filled with ups and downs, or anything in between, we believe these stories have the power to help others...

As a small business lending partner, we have had the privilege of working with hundreds of innovative and inspiring entrepreneurs across the state from a multitude of industries. Throughout these partnerships, we have seen small business owners face uncertainties and unknowns with creativity and intention. Whether these times...

They say that a mission statement is one of the most important aspects of a business and, as a mission-driven company, we can’t help but agree. For over 38 years, our mission has been our trusty guide through it all. When times are tough, it has carried us through. When things are going well, it has helped us soar...

Whether you’ve been working remotely for years or the current situation has forced you to make this transition much quicker than you had hoped, you’ve probably come to realize that working remotely just isn’t the same. We are social beings who thrive off of daily face-to-face interactions...

2020 is here and you have your list of New Year’s resolutions displayed loudly and proudly. After all, you’ve told yourself a million times: “this year is the year.” But, if you’re anything like us, something always comes up or gets in the way and – slowly but surely – that list full of resolutions…

Maybe you read an article about it online, or had it recommended to you by a fellow small business owner. Perhaps your lender discussed it as an option with you at your last meeting or you saw something about it online. Whether you’ve heard the term a thousand times, or this article is the first,…

The United States offers a variety of benefits for active and retired veterans and their families in gratitude for the dedication and service they have offered to our county. What many don’t know, however, is that there are a multitude of advantages available to those who would like to continue serving their...

What is the first word that comes to mind when you think of competition? I am guessing it is along the lines of winning, of losing? While that is true in the world of sports, competition in the business world is just a bit different. Businesses that see competition as a negative, tend to be the ones on the losing end and the ones that see it...

The year was 1987, and I had just graduated from college and embarked on my first real job in my profession. Oh my, how naive I was and how much I had yet to learn, even if I didn’t realize that, myself. I wish I had been given some insight and idea of what it would be like. So, in this month’s issue which focuses on culture, I decided to author a letter to my younger self, some 32 years later...

We have the great honor of working with many savvy women business owners. Each one with a fresh perspective and unique ideology of what it takes to run their business. As we look across our portfolio, there is one thing that they all have in common – wisdom. With experience comes wisdom. With wisdom comes the...

You’ve been searching for a while, but just haven’t found the right person to fill that role. Until now. However, you are stressing – big time – because they have no work experience. At all! You think he will be able to do the job, but there’s no work history to give you the “normal” comfort level of a new employee. Go easy on yourself here. I promise you...

Happy New Year 2019! As we ring in the excitement of this new year, I can’t help but revel in the joys of the holiday season. There were families, friends and feasts. Laughter, memories and traditions. But we would be remiss if we didn’t acknowledge that our society has spent the past couple months in serious gift giving-mode and even gift giving-overload...

Budgets, forecasts, & projections. All essentially mean the same thing when it comes to looking forward with your business and its anticipated financial performance. It’s a very common topic this time of year as many business owners look to plan out their expectations for the next year. What’s not common, however, is the level...

It seems logical that a business owner would have in-depth knowledge of their financial performance, but the reality is that most businesses happen from a dream or hobby and the owners learn by trial and error as they grow. Interpreting and controlling financials is almost a mystery and we see what that means when we get a loan application from a business...

It’s ALL over the news lately – credit scores, credit report, credit agency hacked, credit this...credit that! What’s all the fuss anyway? Well my friends, if you have just put your head in the sand with hopes of ignoring it, you may very well be setting yourself up for financial headaches down the road. Personal credit and credit history is an often...

Once upon a time, you had to sit down and write out your story and plan for your business. They called it a “business plan.” Perhaps it was requested by your banker, or an advisor that was helping you start your business asked you to provide one, or maybe even because you heard that you have to have one...

The dream has been pestering you for a while and you've finally decided to explore the potential. You’ve done your homework. You’ve spent countless hours writing a business plan, working and re-working financial projections, studying the market and competition. Perhaps you have even dabbled in this dream as a hobby, but now you are ready to...

If you have had the opportunity to read the first three articles in this series, they have all lead to the wrap up of this theme. The first message asked “What is your dream?” The second article asked “Who is critical to your success?” The last article asked “How does the magic happen?” For us, the answer to these questions is the foundation for what we do...

They say that two heads are better than one. When multiple minds come together with a willingness to contribute, are actively engaged and share a common purpose, amazing things happen. In today’s world, this is known as collaboration. In my last column, we talked about the relationships that are critical to the success of your business. Individually, they are...

You made the leap. It’s time to turn your dream into a reality. You have a vision, you know what you are selling and why people will buy it. Perhaps you’ve been doing it for a while. Regardless of the stage of your business, just like raising a child, one thing is certain – it takes a village. Long lasting and meaningful relationships are the cornerstone to ongoing...

All businesses start out as a dream. A hope, a vision, an intent to accomplish something. Whether that dream began as a child or was created out of happenstance, when someone decides to pursue that dream, amazing things can happen. We see it every day. Someone takes the steps to begin the journey of starting or growing a small business. It’s a journey that...