Keep It Goin' Don't let high interest rates squelch your growth plans.
By Ellen Paris
Opinions expressed by BIZ Experiences contributors are their own.
Are rising interest rates causing you to rethink growth? Thatcould be a mistake. If profits are healthy and financing rates aregood, then borrowing for expansion is probably worth it, sayexperts.
"A thin-margin business may have to be conservative, butone with fat margins should keep moving forward," says MarcKramer, author of Small Business Turnaround: Revitalize YourStruggling or Stagnant Enterprise (Adams Media Corp.).
George A. Cloutier, chair and CEO of American ManagementServices Inc. of Waltham, Massachusetts, agrees, though heoffers a caveat: "With rising interest rates, you need to makesure this money will make good money for you," says Cloutier,who helps small and midsized companies improve profitability.
How much return in profit will you receive on each borroweddollar? Will you make money with the borrowed money, or just paybills? Answer those two questions, and your path should beclear.
Ellen Paris is a Washington, DC, writer and former Forbesmagazine staff writer.
