Banking

Make a wish list of services you'd like That list should include bank lending policies and interest rates charged and how they'll mesh with your company's anticipated financial needs. Also include less tangible factors, such as customer service, access to key executives and the quality of a bank's online account-management tools.

I recommend:  Find the best banks for entrepreneurs, state-by-state, at Entrepreneur.com. Determine prevailing interest rates using this BusinessWeek survey.

Get your company's finances in order The operating statements and other financial documentation you show a prospective banker should accurately reflect the health of your company. Before meeting a prospective banker huddle with your accountant or financial consultant to explore ways to put your company in its best financial light.

I recommend:  Ask prospective bankers for the names of local financial consultants. This may make a banker more receptive to the financial data you eventually show them. Request your own Dun & Bradstreet report to see how outsiders view your company. Companies with simplified finances can use Entrepreneur.com's online calculators to analyze their own performance. Some banks may also request personal credit reports from you and your partners. Find them online at FreeCreditReport.com. See how you can improve your own creditworthiness using MSN's online debt consolidation calculator.

Choose between small and large banks Large banks make money on volume and may offer streamlined lending procedures. Large banks may also offer state-of-the-art Web-based account-management services, allowing your accounting and financial departments to easily interface with your accounts. Small banks, for their part, may take a special interest in your company and view you as a valuable customer. Small banks also may be more connected to the local business community than their larger competitors.

I recommend:  Compare small business banking services offered by national banks such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and Wachovia with your local bank.

Follow through Carefully nurture your banker relationships. Send quick emails on your company's recent successes. Warn bankers well in advance of potential problems to assure them you're addressing the situation.

I recommend:  Consult Buyerzone.com's online primer on commercial lending. Yahoo! Small Business and the SBA present additional advice on small-business borrowing.