Book excerpt: Wondering how to get a small business loan? In this book, we will guide you through what you need to know before applying. Despite the enduring romance of the rags-to-riches success story, many entrepreneurs have at least some help when starting their ventures. Ambition and grit are essential, but unfortunately, these entrepreneurial traits don’t guarantee the immediate cash flow a business may need. What you should consider is some vital initial financing to get new businesses off the ground: small business loans. Business loans are among the most common forms of financing available to founders looking to start a business. But the choice of whether to apply for a business loan is a major decision for every business owner, and not one to be taken lightly. In this book, we’ll examine some of the many factors that go into deciding whether applying for a business loan is right for you and your business. We’ll look at common types of business loans including SBA loans and what they entail.