February 2019 Lunch and Learn recap: When do you need a CFO?

by Ed Lette

Business Bank of Texas

Ed Lette is Founder, Vice Chairman of the board and Chief of Lending at Business Bank of Texas, N.A. and serves as chairman on the company’s Board of Directors. Serving as a licensed CPA since 1983, Ed’s extensive experience in the banking industry has led him to become the founding president of four national bank charters including Business Bank of Texas, N.A., and the chief financial officer of five national banks during his 45 year career. Ed serves as director of the Texas Bankers Association District 4, chairman of the Executive Advisory Council to the School of Business at Texas Lutheran University, and is a life member of the Texas Association of Business.

The job of a CEO in business can be overwhelming. Aside from being the face of the company, a business leader also makes most of the business decisions and manages the overall operations and tasks of the company. Even if the workload is tearing at the seams, most business owners tend to want to steer the ship themselves.

Why "easy money" loans aren't good for your business

by Ed Lette

Business Bank of Texas

Ed Lette is Founder, Vice Chairman of the board and Chief of Lending at Business Bank of Texas, N.A. and serves as chairman on the company’s Board of Directors. Serving as a licensed CPA since 1983, Ed’s extensive experience in the banking industry has led him to become the founding president of four national bank charters including Business Bank of Texas, N.A., and the chief financial officer of five national banks during his 45 year career. Ed serves as director of the Texas Bankers Association District 4, chairman of the Executive Advisory Council to the School of Business at Texas Lutheran University, and is a life member of the Texas Association of Business.

Business owners occasionally find themselves in need of funding to take the logical next step to grow their companies. Whether it’s to buy a costly new piece of equipment, hire more staff, or move into a new location, these investments may require significant working capital. But when that money isn’t readily available, what options are on the table?

Do you know your personal net worth goals?

by Philip Campbell

Consultant, Author

Philip Campbell is a CPA, consultant, and author of the book A Quick Start Guide to Financial Forecasting: Discover the Secret to Driving Growth, Profitability, and Cash Flow Higher. This new book provides a straightforward, easy-to-understand guide to one of the most powerful financial tools in business: a reliable financial forecast. He is also the author of the book Never Run Out of Cash: The 10 Cash Flow Rules You Can’t Afford to Ignore. The book is a step-by-step guide for business owners and managers who want to better understand and manage their cash flow. Since 1990, Philip has served as a financial officer in a number of growing companies with revenues ranging from $5,000,000 million to over $1,000,000,000. He has been involved in the acquisition or sale of 33 companies (and counting) as well as an IPO on the New York Stock Exchange. Philip loves helping entrepreneurs and business owners think strategically about the financial side of their business. His consulting work is focused on providing the financial insights that leaders need to increase profits, improve cash flow, and enjoy the fruits of financial success in business. What really sets Philip apart from the average financial person you meet is his passion and excitement about helping entrepreneurs and CEOs take control of their cash flow. In fact, early on in his career, he focused and “preached” so much about the importance of cash flow that people now call him CASH. Philip is the founder of Financial Rhythm, a website devoted to people who are serious about creating financial health, wealth, and freedom in their business. If you're an entrepreneur or business owner, Financial Rhythm is a place to get simple, actionable strategies for creating a financial future that is bigger and brighter than your past. Philip lives in Austin, Texas. You can email Philip at pcampbell@pdq.net.

The key to having money (having wealth) in life is to create a strong personal net worth. Your personal net worth is the difference between the value of the assets you own minus the debts you owe. It’s a reflection of how well you are creating real financial value in your life.

Buy-sell agreements: how to buy out your partner

by Kathy Tremmel

Tremmel Law

Kathy Tremmel has significant experience both as a business attorney and corporate executive. Her career spans both legal practice and business management and she opened her own solo law practice in January 2010. In additional to running her own practice, she also is of Counsel with Selman, Munser & Lerner, which is a business transaction law firm in Austin, Texas. Ms. Tremmel has more than 10 years’ experience as a business attorney, providing transactional legal services to a diverse client base, from start-up ventures to well established companies. She helps companies with all their contracts, including customer agreements, non-compete agreements, employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, loans, and leases, helps people set up new businesses, and represents buyers and sellers of businesses. In addition, Ms. Tremmel has 10 years of management experience working with start-up companies. As VP of Operations at Tusker Group, an international litigation support company, Ms. Tremmel led international teams, managed production and quality issues, handled price negotiations, worked closely with clients to determine the scope of their projects, provided project management services, and developed, implemented and documented best practices for processing and training. Ms. Tremmel earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Colorado School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. She is a Texas licensed attorney and a certified Project Management Professional.

One of the most common ways that a small business can be disrupted is when an owner wants to sell or transfer his or her interests the company. As a result, small businesses usually restrict the transfer of ownership in their companies.

Business relationships end for many reasons, sometimes unexpectedly. It is highly probable that there will come a time when of your partners will want to sell his or her shares or interest in the company either to a third party, to the company, or the remaining owners. It is important for business owners to address these issues early on, when the owners can reach an agreement on how to structure these transactions.

Topics: Legal

guide.jpg

Looking to Grow Your Business?

Learn how others do it. Download our guide to growth.

The Small Business Leadership Dilemma

by Mark Johnson

President of Xtrii, and Global Technology Advisor

Mark Johnson is a global technology advisor with more than 30 years of successful business results. His experience includes roles as a global Chief Information Officer, Chief Technology Officer, and innovative, business leader for organizations ranging from $15 Billion+ and 100,000+ employees, to small, fast-paced, rapid-growth companies. Mark currently serves as President of Xtrii (www.Xtrii.com), an executive-level, technology consulting firm that works with C-level executives to provide proven technology leaders that help them address their most pressing technology challenges and risks. He has worked with companies to achieve extraordinary success that is globally recognized for technology excellence, such as the 4-time repeat winner of the national award for the best Information Technology organization, the national “Innovator of the Year” award, and Microsoft’s “Global Technology Innovation” award. Mark has been featured in Bloomberg Business Week, Computerworld Magazine, CIO Magazine, and many other national publications. He is a frequent keynote speaker and technology advisor on how companies can best leverage technology for optimal business outcomes.

A common challenge for small businesses is finding the right leadership resources for key roles. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar?

Topics: Technology

Austin: A Great Place to Start a Business

by Kathy Tremmel

Tremmel Law

Kathy Tremmel has significant experience both as a business attorney and corporate executive. Her career spans both legal practice and business management and she opened her own solo law practice in January 2010. In additional to running her own practice, she also is of Counsel with Selman, Munser & Lerner, which is a business transaction law firm in Austin, Texas. Ms. Tremmel has more than 10 years’ experience as a business attorney, providing transactional legal services to a diverse client base, from start-up ventures to well established companies. She helps companies with all their contracts, including customer agreements, non-compete agreements, employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, loans, and leases, helps people set up new businesses, and represents buyers and sellers of businesses. In addition, Ms. Tremmel has 10 years of management experience working with start-up companies. As VP of Operations at Tusker Group, an international litigation support company, Ms. Tremmel led international teams, managed production and quality issues, handled price negotiations, worked closely with clients to determine the scope of their projects, provided project management services, and developed, implemented and documented best practices for processing and training. Ms. Tremmel earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Colorado School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. She is a Texas licensed attorney and a certified Project Management Professional.

The startup atmosphere in Austin, Texas is considered the best in the United States, according to Inc.com’s article on surge cities. The article cites the reasonable cost of living, loads of sunshine, well-educated people, the “Live Music Capital of the World” and the city’s fun streak as reasons people flock to Austin. The city is growing four times faster than most of Silicon Valley, drawing talent and startups from all over the country.

Get in the zone: Investing in Qualified Opportunity Zones

by Mark Puzdrak

CPA

Mark Puzdrak is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with more than 13 years of professional experience helping small to medium-sized businesses with their tax and accounting needs including individual, corporate, and partnership income tax returns along with business and individual tax planning. Mark is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and the Texas Society of Certified Public Accountants. He is licensed as a Certified Public Accountant in Texas and Pennsylvania. He earned both of his bachelor of arts degrees in accounting and finance from Lycoming College in Williamsport, PA. Mark is committed to delivering tax and planning services that meet each client's unique objectives with a focus on services for small to medium-sized businesses as well as clients in the Real Estate, Manufacturing, Entertainment, and Professional Services industries. Mark lives in Austin, Texas with his wife, Kelly. He enjoys reading biographies, visiting small Texas towns, and the occasional scotch and cigar.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) created a new opportunity for business owners and taxpayers with capital gains to shield taxes on those gains if the investment is made into a Qualified Opportunity Zone.

Does your business have the right infrastructure in place?

by Jan Triplett

Business Success Center

Jan Triplett, Ph.D. is the CEO of the Business Success Center (BSC), a City of Austin certified green business. It provides sales and financial strategies and advice to owners of product and service businesses. It received a Small Business Administration (SBA) five-star national award and the Austin Business Journal named it a top 20 management consulting firms. Triplett is a national and international speaker, author of A Networker’s Guide to Success and Thinking Big, Staying Small. She published The Networker ” and moderated KUT radio’s “The Next 200 Years”. She was co-creator of the award-winning “City Management Academy” and the “Owners MBA. She owned and ran the Entrepreneurs’ Association and a business accelerator and hatchery. She is a small business activist, serving as a White House Conference on Small Business and Congressional Summit delegate. She was on the Mayor’s Task Force on International Infrastructure, initiated the Northcross IBIZ District and recommended portions of Austin’s Big Box Ordinance. She was a founder of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce of Texas and the Greater Austin International Coalition. The SBA honored her as Texas’ Small Business Advocate. Triplett is a member of Central Texas Association of Guaranteed Government Lenders and an NCRC Certified Technical Advisor. She volunteers for the Austin Farmers Market and the Austin Humane Society and serves on the advisory board of Students Involved in Free Enterprise.

When it comes to running a business, too much infrastructure is a waste; so is too little. In either case, it’s tough to maintain stability in uncertain times and grow when the time is right without the right supports in place.

The Stock Market in 2019: Are you trading or investing?

by Dave Sather

Sather Financial Group

Dave Sather is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and President of the Sather Financial Group, Inc. Sather Financial Group is a $400 million “fee-only” wealth management firm based in Victoria. Sather Financial is ranked as one of the top independent wealth management firms in the country according to Financial Advisor Magazine. Dave was raised in El Paso, received his B.A. in Business Management from Texas Lutheran University and received his M.B.A. from Texas A&M University. He has spent the past twenty years in the financial analysis, investment and banking industries. Dave is an adjunct professor in the business program at Texas Lutheran University. Additionally, Dave is a director of Business Bank of Texas as well as the Chairman of the Finance and Investments Committee for the Brownson Children’s Home and is a member of the Executive Advisory Council at Texas Lutheran University. He resides in Victoria, Texas.

Between December 3rd and the 24th the stock market fell more than 15%. The headlines were bold:

“US stocks log worst year since 2008.”

“Worst December stock performance since 1931.”

“Worst Christmas Eve performance ever!”

“Corporate Profit Crunch Looms.”

One person I know liquidated their entire portfolio December 23rd exclaiming they analyzed the “charts” and everything was going down. They added that a recession was guaranteed to happen in 2020. The media chimed in with unending dramatization on the end of times as we know it.

The Strategy Behind Selling Your Business, part two: preparing to sell

by Kathy Tremmel

Tremmel Law

Kathy Tremmel has significant experience both as a business attorney and corporate executive. Her career spans both legal practice and business management and she opened her own solo law practice in January 2010. In additional to running her own practice, she also is of Counsel with Selman, Munser & Lerner, which is a business transaction law firm in Austin, Texas. Ms. Tremmel has more than 10 years’ experience as a business attorney, providing transactional legal services to a diverse client base, from start-up ventures to well established companies. She helps companies with all their contracts, including customer agreements, non-compete agreements, employment agreements, buy-sell agreements, loans, and leases, helps people set up new businesses, and represents buyers and sellers of businesses. In addition, Ms. Tremmel has 10 years of management experience working with start-up companies. As VP of Operations at Tusker Group, an international litigation support company, Ms. Tremmel led international teams, managed production and quality issues, handled price negotiations, worked closely with clients to determine the scope of their projects, provided project management services, and developed, implemented and documented best practices for processing and training. Ms. Tremmel earned a Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Colorado School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts from Dartmouth College. She is a Texas licensed attorney and a certified Project Management Professional.

This article is Part 2 of a two-part series focusing on selling your business. Read part one here.

An estimated 70% of the businesses listed for sale do not close. It takes significant planning and preparation to successfully exit a business. The more transparent you are about any major business decisions, the more likely you are to build trust with a potential buyer. This can, in turn, result in obtaining a better price for your business. There is no guarantee that the right buyer will be interested in buying your business when you want to sell it, but here are some practical steps you can take to better position your business for sale.

1
2
3
...
87

Useful Links

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Contact Information

1910 W Braker Ln, Austin, TX 78758

Austin Office: 512.835.6600

Fax Number: 512-835-6614

Our offices are open Monday-Friday, 9 AM to 4 PM

Connect With Us

© 2019 Business Bank of Texas, N.A. | Member FDIC | Privacy Policy | Agreements
fdic