Tire Kickers Not Wanted

I was talking to a leading loan officer at a major bank the other day about the needs of startup businesses. He nearly groaned at the prospect of dealing with startups. "Tire kickers," he called them. "I don't have time to hold their hands."

Now, he admitted he was atypical of other lenders. But I was taken aback. It was my belief that most businesses would be very open to the prospect of working with a startup company as a way of developing a relationship that will grow.

So here is the question of the day for all you startups: what kind of reception to you get with talking to lenders, printers, etc. Are you treated as a tire kicker or as a valued future business relationship?

If you've been snubbed by one supplier as you researched costs for your business plan, were you hesitant to call the next one?

Do people make you feel as if you're wasting their time or are they patient and open?

Are there any businesses out their that have been outgoing, proactive in trying to connect with you since you filed for your Minnesota business name?


NewBizMinn