Sageworks Blog

Nov01

GDP, private-company trends among economy's mixed signals Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Nov 01, 2012 17:03

In the last general report card on the economy before the Nov. 6 election, the recent GDP data was consistent with some of the mixed signals affecting privately held companies. Data from Sageworks Inc., a financial information company, shows that private companies on average have seen about 7 percent growth in sales from last year. [More]

Oct 30, 2012 09:57

Many small private businesses are finding it challenging to access financial resources for growth at a time when lenders are still cautious and facing pressure to avoid risky loans. Many businesses already know this, because they have seen their borrowing requests rejected by a lender. Others may be considering starting a loan application and want to ensure the business is best prepared to receive an approval. [More]

Oct 29, 2012 12:58

This guest post by John Owens and David Harrop, founders of BCI Financial Services Consulting, summarizes their presentation on how to improve productivity and efficiency through benchmarking and staffing models. Run A Better Bank: Using Productivity & Efficiency Metrics to Improve Profitability was the most recent webinar in Sageworks’ 2012 webinar series. The series is an offering of free, educational webinars led by consultants and leaders in the banking industry who share best practices for financial institutions. [More]

Oct 26, 2012 09:03

It has become critical for businesses of all types and for lending institutions to spot signs of financial sickness before they are fatal. Bankruptcies not only hurt the firm the itself but it affects other third parties such as suppliers, vendors, or partners. Subsequently, the recent rise in bankruptcies has put a tremendous amount of pressure on bankers and loan officers. [More]

Oct25

Accounting pros: Clients can do more to check creditworthiness Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Oct 25, 2012 14:21

Sixty-five percent of accounting professionals responding to an online survey by Sageworks Inc., a financial information company, said business clients don’t do enough before extending credit. [More]

Oct25

Definitive guide to understanding global cash flow analysis Libby Bierman [email] Analyst

Oct 25, 2012 14:05

In today’s financial services industry, there is little room for poorly informed loan decisions. Especially given the recent change in BASEL requirements, a true understanding of risk is essential if your financial institution is to comply with regulatory guidelines. Sageworks releases a new whitepaper. [More]

Oct23

Community bank stress testing Libby Bierman [email] Analyst

Oct 23, 2012 13:26

On October 18, 2012, the OCC released guidance to community banks under $10 billion in assets to provide more transparency as to what expectations are for community bank stress testing and how to perform stress tests. What does this mean for community banks, and how can Sageworks help? [More]

Oct 22, 2012 13:20

The key to a financial institution’s future success is recognizing that an evolving market translates into a need for proactive, continuous planning from the bottom-up, says John Oliver, President of Laurel Management Systems, Inc. In Part I of this guest column, Oliver elaborates on the importance of whole-system planning. [More]

Oct 22, 2012 09:51

Options for conducting financial due diligence and for assessing default risk are numerous, though many of the methods have shortcomings. As technology advances, it enables companies and business owners to make sounder lending decisions. It is crucial for every business to be aware of the resources they have available, in order to make the best decision possible. [More]

Oct22

Gas prices higher, but station-owner profits slim Mary Ellen Biery [email] Research Specialist

Oct 22, 2012 08:55

High gasoline prices got you down? Gasoline prices in California have been so high recently that some gas station owners have closed up shop rather than lose money, according to published reports. Data from Sageworks, a financial information company, sheds light on why things might be tough for gas stations, particularly those in parts of the U.S. where gas prices have soared to around $4.66 a gallon, on average. [More]