Pricey Loans - with Perks

With interest rates heading up, demand for small business loans is leveling off. To attract small business clients, banks are increasing the number of specialty products they offer, including everything from e-commerce consulting and Internet account access to concierge services (Connecticut-based Liberty Bank Offers to make travel arrangements for clients). At the same time, loans are being bundled with other financial services, such as payroll and health, life, and auto insurance - offered free or at a reduced cost, providing a de facto discount on the loan. Some banks even throw in free personal checking accounts for the business owner.

(Business Week, "Pricey Loans - with Perks," February 28, 2000)

Scott McNealy with Sun Microsystems Inc.

Back in 1982, when he and three others started Sun Microsystems Inc., Scott McNealy, then 27, borrowed $15,000 in start-up capital from his father. Originally in charge of manufacturing for the budding business, McNealy didn't know a thing about high-tech. Today McNealy is recognized as a visionary in the high-tech industry and Sun Microsystems has earned a reputations as a leading provider of heavy-duty technologically sophisticated computers known as work-stations and servers that use the Unix operating system, generally considered more reliable than Microsoft's operating system. Sun is also the market leader in setting up systems for Internet companies.

(Entrepreneur, August 2000, page 85)