BUS-204 — Business Funding & Banking Relationships
Director: Professor Winger
Most entrepreneurs treat banking like a transaction. Walk in, ask for money, get declined, walk out. Then wonder why the answer is always no.
Banks don't fund transactions. They fund relationships. This class teaches you to structure your business, build credibility, and create banking allies who open doors to capital before you ever need it.
What You'll Master
By the end of BUS-204, you will be able to understand the real difference between personal and business credit; build the three essentials banks require before lending: financials, business plan, and track record; establish long-term banker relationships instead of chasing one-off loans; identify every funding path available to you, including traditional banks, credit unions, fintech lenders, and private funding; and use the Founder-to-Pipeline system to secure opportunities beyond banks entirely.
The Curriculum
Part 1 — Foundations of Business Funding
Why banks fund some businesses and reject others.
Building credibility: LLC, EIN, DUNS, and proper documentation.
Separating personal and business finances for good.
Part 2 — Banking Relationships
Choosing the right bank for your business type.
How to introduce yourself to a banker.
The power of regular check-ins and consistent deposits.
Building trust before you ever ask for capital.
Part 3 — Credit Report Optimization: The A+ Standard
Learn the profile lenders label "A+": a credit score of 700 or higher, credit card utilization at 10% or below, at least one personal credit card with a $10K limit, three or fewer hard inquiries in the last six months, two-plus years of credit history, and zero derogatories, including no late payments, charge-offs, collections, or bankruptcies.
We show you how to build toward every marker.
Part 4 — Funding Sources
Lines of credit vs. loans vs. merchant cash advances, and when each makes sense.
Venture capital and angel investors through the pipeline pathway.
Part 5 — Your Action Plan
Build your 90-Day Banking Relationship Strategy.
Draft your Business Banking Package: pitch deck, financial statements, media kit.
Schedule your first banker meeting within 30 days.
Position your account the right way: minimum $2,000 deposit, seasoned for 30 days, before you apply.
Assignments
Banking Partner Map
Identify three banks or credit unions you'll approach.
Your 60-Second Banker Intro Script
Prepare how you will introduce yourself and your business.
Funding Checklist
Identify the documents you already have and the documents you're missing.
Mock Banker Meeting
Practice with a fellow member before the real meeting.
The Deliverable
You graduate with a one-page Banking Relationship Strategy Plan: chosen banks, contact persons, initial deposit strategy, and a timeline for funding requests.
Not theory. A plan you execute the week you finish.