1 00:00:00.065 --> 00:00:00.605 Hey everyone. 2 00:00:00.605 --> 00:00:01.645 Alison Berger here. 3 00:00:01.745 --> 00:00:05.245 I'm at the B2B Finance Expo here in Las Vegas now joined 4 00:00:05.245 --> 00:00:08.045 with Jake Strelzik with Merit Business Funding. 5 00:00:08.215 --> 00:00:09.645 How's it been going for you so far today? 6 00:00:09.835 --> 00:00:11.725 It's been great. It's been a real good event. 7 00:00:11.825 --> 00:00:13.245 Really love the speakers. 8 00:00:13.505 --> 00:00:18.245 Uh, met a lot of, uh, new people, uh, touch base with a lot 9 00:00:18.245 --> 00:00:19.285 of old acquaintances, 10 00:00:19.585 --> 00:00:22.325 and it was, uh, certainly worth the trip from, uh, 11 00:00:22.935 --> 00:00:26.245 sunny Florida to, uh, very, very dry 12 00:00:26.465 --> 00:00:30.045 and hot, uh, Las Vegas, but having a good time. 13 00:00:30.745 --> 00:00:31.965 I'm happy to hear that. So 14 00:00:31.965 --> 00:00:34.165 how do you fit into the B2B space? So, 15 00:00:34.165 --> 00:00:37.165 We are a funder Okay. 16 00:00:37.465 --> 00:00:41.365 But we're unique in the way, in the specific way 17 00:00:41.755 --> 00:00:43.525 that we are owned by a bank. 18 00:00:43.555 --> 00:00:47.325 Bank, okay. Where most of the other funders Okay. 19 00:00:47.945 --> 00:00:50.685 Are owned separately. 20 00:00:50.865 --> 00:00:54.325 Uh, their, um, their capital comes from, uh, 21 00:00:54.325 --> 00:00:55.565 alternative resources. 22 00:00:56.105 --> 00:01:00.325 So our capital is extremely low, extremely cheap. 23 00:01:00.875 --> 00:01:02.765 Okay. We try to pass that along 24 00:01:02.985 --> 00:01:04.685 and try to do much better paper. 25 00:01:05.345 --> 00:01:07.965 And, uh, that's the, that's the merit game. 26 00:01:08.025 --> 00:01:10.525 And, uh, you know, being part of a bank 27 00:01:11.195 --> 00:01:15.045 also gives you a segue into certain, you know, 28 00:01:15.305 --> 00:01:18.165 we have equipment financing, we have an SBA division. 29 00:01:18.675 --> 00:01:20.005 Okay. We've got, you know, what, 30 00:01:20.325 --> 00:01:23.365 whatever your needs would be as a business owner, 31 00:01:23.785 --> 00:01:26.885 you have the capabilities of graduating from Merit 32 00:01:27.265 --> 00:01:29.485 and going through into the other programs. 33 00:01:30.065 --> 00:01:31.205 So, go ahead. 34 00:01:32.225 --> 00:01:34.605 You're doing great. You keep telling me more. 35 00:01:34.965 --> 00:01:36.125 I, how much more is there? 36 00:01:36.285 --> 00:01:38.885 I don't, uh, that's, that's it. So what do you, what would, 37 00:01:39.025 --> 00:01:40.885 So who's coming to you, who is your customer? 38 00:01:41.425 --> 00:01:44.205 Our customer are higher 39 00:01:44.535 --> 00:01:46.645 grade, uh, clients. 40 00:01:47.195 --> 00:01:51.285 Okay. With, uh, you know, better FICO scores. Okay. 41 00:01:51.785 --> 00:01:55.845 Strong revenue, good time in business looking typically 42 00:01:56.145 --> 00:01:59.885 for additional capital behind somebody that funded them, 43 00:02:00.505 --> 00:02:02.125 you know, on a first position. 44 00:02:02.585 --> 00:02:05.845 And we're able to come in, you know, do a 12 month deal, 45 00:02:06.505 --> 00:02:09.325 put out rates in the low one twos Okay. 46 00:02:09.785 --> 00:02:13.405 As buy rates and, uh, you know, fund very quickly 47 00:02:13.555 --> 00:02:14.725 with minimal steps. 48 00:02:15.185 --> 00:02:18.085 And those are pretty much our, our clients. 49 00:02:19.025 --> 00:02:20.885 Sounds good. And how's the rest 50 00:02:20.885 --> 00:02:22.085 of the year projected for you? 51 00:02:22.115 --> 00:02:23.245 What do you think is gonna happen? I 52 00:02:23.245 --> 00:02:24.805 Think we're, I think we're gonna finish strong. 53 00:02:24.995 --> 00:02:29.885 Okay. We've, um, you know, came in out of our infancy from, 54 00:02:30.145 --> 00:02:33.445 uh, just currently a little over three years 55 00:02:33.985 --> 00:02:35.965 and we're really starting to hit our stride 56 00:02:36.065 --> 00:02:38.885 and like everybody knows in this space, okay. 57 00:02:38.905 --> 00:02:41.925 The best marketing are bank statements. Okay. 58 00:02:41.925 --> 00:02:44.125 Because when they see merit in the bank statements, 59 00:02:44.355 --> 00:02:47.765 everybody wants to know, Hey, what are these guys doing? 60 00:02:48.105 --> 00:02:50.485 How do I get, you know, how do I work with them? 61 00:02:50.795 --> 00:02:52.925 Well, now I know. I feel a part of the group. 62 00:02:53.185 --> 00:02:55.765 You are part of the group. You're, you're part 63 00:02:55.765 --> 00:02:57.245 of the marriage family now. Allison. 64 00:02:57.655 --> 00:02:59.285 Thank you. I feel so grateful. 65 00:02:59.715 --> 00:03:01.285 Well, thanks so much for chatting with me. 66 00:03:01.285 --> 00:03:03.965 And there's still more to come from the B2B Finance Expo.