CPAs (from left) Mary Hayslett, Stacy Batcheller, Julie Brown and Gina Edwards recently established Edwards, Hayslett & Co. LLC in Parkville with the help of Midwest Small Business Finance loans. MSBF operates several programs that help start and expand area small- and medium-sized businesses with below-market interest rates.

When CPAs Mary J. Hayslett and Gina C. Edwards decided to open an accounting office in Parkville last year, they knew that obtaining starting capital was critical. They now say that one of the best moves they made was contacting the Midwest Small Business Finance, an area non-profit organization.

“We were able to launch with such ease because of their revolving loan,” Hayslett explained. “We looked at traditional loans, but that was very expensive money. This saved us more than two percent and it was very easy.”

Edwards Hayslett & Co., LLC utilized one of several financial programs offered by MSBF, the organization’s revolving fund loan. Maintained locally by MSBF, Revolving Loan Fund repayments are returned and loaned out again. Other programs include the SBA 504 and 7A loans, but all are administered through MSBF, which means that applicants are dealing with a single, responsive organization.

“We didn’t have the bureaucracy of going through the Small Business Administration or anything like that,” Hayslett noted. “It’s really all local. They control the funds. The speed at which things are processed is so much quicker.”

Hayslett said the savings allowed the partners to start quickly and, since opening in 2007, they more than doubled their original projections in the first year. “Because they were so prompt, we got off to a good start,” she concluded. “It really made a lot of difference. I think the only thing wrong is more people need to know about it!”

For further information, contact the Midwest Small Business Finance office at (816) 468-4989, or by e-mailing julied@simplymoreloans.com.