Mainebiz

W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 15 A P R I L 2 0 , 2 0 2 6 F O C U S B A N K I N G / F I N A N C E / I N S U R A N C E Ateklo expects a busy decade ahead. "To maintain our pace toward a goal of 40 companies over the next 10 years, we plan on starting another two companies over the next 12 months," Hafner says. Growth capital without the strings For startups without the collateral to secure a bank loan — or the desire to cede an ownership stake to a private equity or venture capital investor — Brunswick-based Coastal Enterprises Inc. offers another path. One of CEI's small-business financ- ing options is a novel debt instrument known as revenue-based financing to provide growth capital that's repaid as a percentage of revenue. e nonprofit, community development financial institution gets its funding from federal sources and from private donors seeking to invest for impact. e arrangement gives borrowers some wiggle room in the early stages of a business, when revenue can swing sharply from month to month or cash flows are strained. Payments rise and fall with income levels, so the debt is repaid as the business earns more. To qualify for a loan, a business must have had at least $150,00 in revenue in the past 12 months. is is how it works: If a borrower is granted $100,000 loan today, it would pay back 1.5 times that amount or $150,000 total over the next five to seven years. Because monthly payments are calculated as a percent- age of revenue, the amount increases or decreases as revenue changes. at may be especially attractive to seasonal opera- tions that can shoulder bigger payments when they're busier. "It's especially business-friendly that way," says Amy Leshure, a CEI loan and investment officer who runs the pilot program. ough revenue-based financing isn't for everyone and is more expen- sive than a conventional loan, Leshure says it's more affordable than giving up equity and less cumbersome than taking instructions from a board. "A lot of entrepreneurs — especially female and BIPOC — often don't get the kind of money they need from ven- ture, and often don't want that hyper- scale push," she says. "ere's a growing movement where they're saying 'No' to the venture gold rush." "I'm not discouraging anyone from raising venture capital," she adds, "but sometimes people just want to opt out of that rat race." W hen a business is in distress, a lifeline can take many forms. That's where Drummond Woodsum attorneys Kellie Fisher, Christopher Brooks, Ben Marcus, Jeff Piampiano, and Andrea Holbrook can help. Our extensive bankruptcy, restructuring, and creditors' rights practice is ready, willing, and able to undertake efficient and immediate action in any distressed commercial situation. We pride ourselves on providing practical advice to our clients in northern New England and across the country from the first sign of distress through the most complex chapter 11 bankruptcy. LEARN MORE about what our Bankruptcy, Restructuring, & Creditors' Rights Team can do for you. dwmlaw.com | 800.727.1941 Rising with Intention SP ONSORED BY Inspired by lessons drawn from "How Women Rise" by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith, this candid discussion will offer practical insight into strengthening executive presence, expanding impact and leading with greater confidence in today's business environment. 7:30–10:30AM / GOOD THEATER AT STEVENS SQUARE, PORTLAND MAY 13TH LEARN MORE AND REGISTER AT MAINEBIZ.BIZ/EVENT/WLF PANELIST S Linda Ball President & CEO, Central Maine Power Jennifer Breton CEO & Partner, Lebel & Harriman Retirement Advisors Courtney Holub Executive Director, WinterKids Kylie Mason President & COO, Sebago Technics Kaveri Subbarao Nauhaus CEO, Bernstein Shur C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E »

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