Capitalizing: The A-Z Guide to Funding Your Acquisition | ft. Live Oak Bank pt. 1

Описание: You found the business. Now how do you actually pay for it?

In this episode — Part 1 of a three-part series — Brandon William Jones, Founder & CEO of Gravy Wealth, sits down with Mike Bollinger, Head of Inclusive Lending at Live Oak Bank, and Lillian Graning, VP of Inclusive Banking, to break down the A-to-Z of funding a business acquisition. Live Oak is the largest SBA 7(a) lender by volume six years running, and Mike and Lillian bring decades of combined experience helping first-time acquirers navigate the lending process from first conversation to closing day.

This isn't theory — it's the exact framework the nation's top acquisition lender uses to evaluate deals, structure loans, and decide who gets funded. From understanding the difference between personal and business loans, to the mechanics of debt service coverage ratios, to why you should talk to your bank before you even submit an LOI — this conversation gives you the playbook that most first-time buyers learn the hard way.

Whether you're a corporate professional exploring your first acquisition or an experienced searcher looking to sharpen your financing strategy, this episode lays the foundation for everything that follows.

In this episode, you'll learn:

Why business loans can't be "pre-approved" the way mortgages can — and how to think about what you can afford

The three components every lender evaluates: the buyer, the business, and the fit between the two

Why Live Oak wants to talk to you before you submit your LOI — and how that saves you from deal-killing structural mistakes

How the SBA 7(a) program works — lower down payments, longer terms, no balloons, no covenants, and cash-flow-based decisions

The 90/10 rule: how the bank funds up to 90% of total project cost and what makes up your 10%

How seller financing works within an SBA deal — including the standby rules that catch most first-timers off guard

Why buying real estate with the business can actually improve your cash flow through blended amortization terms

The 1.5x debt service coverage ratio Live Oak targets — and how they calculate it using your personal expenses, debt load, and business earnings

What concentration risk is and how one pharmacy owner survived losing a $5M contract six months after closing

The critical do's and don'ts: don't buy potential, don't assume negative trends are reversible, don't let a deal pick you — and do build a team that tells you the truth

How the personal guarantee works, when your home equity gets pledged, and the 20% ownership threshold for investors

This is Part 1 of a three-part series with Live Oak Bank covering the full acquisition financing journey. Stay tuned for Part 2 on diligence and Part 3 on advanced deal structuring.

Press play and learn what the largest SBA lender in America wants you to know before you buy your first business.