Franchise Lending Spotlight Conference in Boston To Connect Growing Franchise Brands With Lenders

Feb. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- BOSTON, Mass. – BoeFly, the premier online marketplace connecting small business borrowers with lenders and a strategic ally of the International Franchise Association (IFA) to expand credit access within the franchise community, today announced its Franchise Lending Spotlight Conference on April 3, 2013 at Embassy Suites in Waltham, Mass.

The conference will provide executives of fast-growing franchise brands the opportunity to present to a diverse group of community, regional and national lenders with the aim of facilitating lending to franchise business owners in the Northeast.

A recent BoeFly survey of nationwide lenders found that 97.6 percent of respondents think it is important for franchise brands to provide information to help banks evaluate financing requests from franchisees, which could in turn positively impact credit access for franchise business owners.

“Lenders who are well informed about a franchise brand are more likely to fund its franchisees, and we've developed this event in response to requests from franchise brands that are growing in the New England market and want to substantively educate bankers,” said Mike Rozman, co-president of BoeFly, the conference organizers. “The early response from the lending community has been tremendous, and we look forward to a powerful event that we expect to be the first of an ongoing series."

The franchise brands presenting to lenders at the conference will include Bin There Dump That, Checkers, Cups Frozen Yogurt, Great Clips, Hardee’s, Kiddie Academy and Martinizing Dry Cleaning.

"Checkers is excited to extend our growth into the New England market, and I see this event as an important and efficient way to connect with lenders, who are key stakeholder’s for our franchise owners," said Jennifer Durham, vice president of franchise development at Checkers.  

Following the presentations, each banker will receive secure online access to additional information about each brand directly within BoeFly’s online platform, which more than 125 franchisors rely on to help their franchisees connect with over 3,600 lenders to more efficiently secure financing.

"Meeting the needs of small businesses is a key focus of TD Bank,” said Rich Bradshaw, head of SBA programs at TD Bank and an event sponsor. “We look forward to connecting with the tremendous brands in attendance at the Franchise Lending Spotlight to determine how we can continue to best support the needs of entrepreneurs in the communities we serve.”

Barbara Arena, vice president of Granite State Development Corporation, the No. 1 Certified Development Company in New England making SBA 504 loans, stated, "The Spotlight Conference presents an unprecedented opportunity for us to meet with franchise executives growing in our community. We are thrilled to support the event and look forward to seeing our bank partners and other industry leaders."

In addition to the presentations by franchise brands to lenders, the conference will feature various speakers who will share their perspectives on franchise financing, including Bradshaw; Robert Nelson, the Small Business Administration (SBA) district director for Massachusetts; and Beth Solomon, president and CEO of the National Association of Development Companies (NADCO).

The Franchise Lending Spotlight Conference will take place on Wednesday, April 3, 2013 beginning at 9 a.m. at Embassy Suites, located at 550 Winter Street, Waltham, Mass. 02451.

For more information, please visit http://www.franchisorspotlight.com/

About BoeFly

BoeFly makes it easier to obtain small business loans (http://www.boefly.com/) by reducing the time, cost, complexity, inefficiency and frustration associated with small business lending.  Its online proprietary matching technology connects small business borrowers with multiple lenders from among its more than 3,600 participating banks, based on the lending profiles provided by the banks and the information provided in the borrower’s loan request.

Borrowers build a complete decision-ready loan request online using BoeFly’s exclusive “SmartForm” technology which, when completed, provides the information that more than 3,600 lenders nationwide indicated to BoeFly they want to see before moving forward with a loan request. The SmartForm is easy to use and guides borrowers through the process. Once BoeFly’s matching technology identifies compatible lenders, borrowers then have complete control over which lenders can instantly access their loan request.  Using BoeFly, borrowers can connect with multiple lenders quickly and easily, providing a greater probability of obtaining a loan, as well as more favorable loan terms resulting from the creation of a competitive marketplace.   Lenders benefit by being presented with only those loan requests that fit their lending profile, dramatically lowering their cost and time of origination.   BoeFly is not a broker.  Borrowers pay a small one-time fee and lenders pay an ongoing subscription fee; BoeFly never charges transaction or referral fees.

BoeFly, now a strategic ally of the International Franchise Association to expand credit access within the franchise community (http://www.boefly.com/ifa.cfm), offers a Franchise Solution bringing these benefits to the large and growing small business franchisee community and is the choice of more than 125 brands, including Dunkin’ Donuts, Carl’s Jr., Express Personnel and Kiddie Academy, among many others.

BoeFly’s Affiliate Solution is the financing exchange chosen by the Association of Small Business Development Centers, representing approximately 1,000 centers nationwide, which are funded in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration, to serve small businesses, and Franchise Gator, the leading site for information on franchise opportunities.

BoeFly was founded by small business owners and small business lending experts with extensive small business lending experience. The company is privately-held and is based in New York City. http://www.boefly.com.

Media inquiries:

Bill Fallon/ Keating Co. /212.925.6900/ bfallon@keatingco.com