Small business banking is being disrupted. Those cliché, predictable conversations that used to get a business banker in the door are slowly vanishing as bank clients begin to expect more out of their banker. For traditional banks and their relationship managers (RMs), this means they must find new ways to remain relevant to small- to...

You may have heard the platitude, “Cash is the most important, yet least productive, asset a business has.” It is a bit cliché, but it is also true. Properly balancing the so-called “big three” of cash management—accounts receivable, accounts payable, and inventory—is crucial to the financial success of any business. 

The economy is a hot topic lately, with pundits arguing over whether we are or aren’t heading into a recession. Whether you think an inverted yield curve is a recession bellwether or not, there’s no debate that there’s a lot to be learned by looking at economic numbers. But practically speaking, most small business success is dependent...

Speaking with people you don’t know at a networking event can be a tricky proposition. Having a valuable conversation with a prospective client means making sure it is about them, not you. To do that, you need to be both inquisitive and insightful. Knowing something about a lot of different topics gives you a leg up. And that’s where...

There is arguably no one busier than a small to mid-sized business (SMB) owner. Because they are wearing so many different hats, SMB owners often don’t have the time to concern themselves with news about their own industry. But when you send them news and engage with them about these relevant topics, it can help them think more broadly...

There are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of niches that small businesses fill within this country. (On Vertical IQ, we cover over 450 of these sectors.) Yet, despite this enormous variety, there are certain aspects of running a small business that many of these companies have in common: concerns about capital and cashflow,...

For most small to mid-sized business (SMB) owners, their company is their most valuable asset. This dollar figure can have a big impact on them personally and professionally, both now and into the future, yet many business owners don’t really know what their company is worth.

“Trigger events” are major changes that affect a business. They can be milestones achieved through the normal course of a business’ life such as buying new equipment or moving locations. Or, they can be through environmental happenings outside of the business’ control such as new laws. For a business owner, they can be joyful, such as a...

As a busy professional, you likely find yourself burning the candle at both ends much of the time. You know that you should do more to prepare for meeting with small business owners, but there just aren’t enough hours in the day. 

In 2017, River Cities Capital Funds, a growth equity fund focused on healthcare and information technology, produced a study on software as a service (SaaS) companies. At the time, River Cities already had invested roughly $100 million in 16 SaaS companies, which had resulted in six successful liquidity events, including two IPOs.