Posts by EmoryDay
The Five Most-Read Ask The Surety Pro Posts of Q1 2026
The Ask The Surety Pro video series exists for one reason: to give contractors the surety bond knowledge they need to make better decisions, strengthen their financial positioning, and compete more effectively for the work they want. In Q1 2026, the series covered topics that matter to contractors at every stage of growth, from understanding…
Read MoreSBA 7(a) Loans vs. Conventional Loans: What Small Contractors Need to Know Before Choosing
When a small construction company is looking for financing, one of the first decisions to make is whether to pursue a conventional bank loan or an SBA 7(a) loan. On the surface the two options may seem similar. In practice, the way each one evaluates your business is fundamentally different, and understanding that difference can…
Read MoreAsk Your Surety Pro – Why Sureties Want to See a Business Line of Credit, Even If You Rarely Use It
Some construction company owners are surprised to learn that surety companies often want to see a business line of credit in place, even if it is rarely used. The reason has less to do with whether you draw on it and more to do with what it represents to an underwriter. In this episode of…
Read MoreHow Construction Companies Can Use an SBA 7(a) Loan to Buy a Warehouse or Commercial Property
For construction companies looking to purchase a warehouse, yard, or other commercial property, conventional bank financing is not always a straightforward path. Debt service coverage requirements, loan-to-value thresholds, and the irregular cash flow patterns common in construction can make it difficult to fit neatly into a conventional underwriting box. The SBA 7(a) loan program offers…
Read MoreAsk Your Surety Pro – Can a CPA Compilation Statement Help Grow Your Bonding Capacity?
For small contractors relying on internally prepared financial statements, upgrading to a CPA compilation report can be an important first step toward qualifying for larger bonding programs. But the value of that compilation depends heavily on how it is prepared and what supporting schedules the CPA firm includes. In this episode of Ask The Surety…
Read MoreHow to Use an SBA 7(a) Loan to Acquire a Construction Company in 2026
If you are an entrepreneur, a key employee considering a buyout, or an existing contractor looking to grow through acquisition, the SBA 7(a) loan program may be one of the most practical financing tools available to you. But understanding how the process works, what underwriters evaluate, and how investor capital and seller financing fit into…
Read MoreAsk Your Surety Pro – How to Make a Strong First Impression When Meeting a Surety Company
Your first meeting with a surety company is about more than your financial statements. Surety underwriters want to understand the people behind the business — your experience, your reputation, your operational discipline, and your long-term vision for growth. In this episode of Ask The Surety Pro, Brent Headley, Surety Account Executive at Anderson & Catania,…
Read MoreIs the SBA 7(a) Loan Program Available to Construction Companies?
One of the most common questions construction company owners have about SBA lending is a straightforward one: does it actually apply to them? The answer is yes, and it has for a long time. AC Surety sat down with Capital Bank to get a direct answer on which SBA loan products are available to construction…
Read MoreAsk Your Surety Pro – Is Surety Bond Capacity Available for Small Contractors in 2026?
The surety bond market in 2026 continues to offer strong capacity for small businesses, especially contractors working in federal infrastructure, manufacturing expansion, energy projects, and data center construction. In this episode of Ask The Surety Pro, Joe Catania, Co-Founder and CEO of Anderson & Catania, explains why surety companies remain motivated to support well-managed small…
Read MoreHow Construction Business Owners Can Use SBA Loans to Fund a Buyout or Succession Plan
Succession planning is one of the most pressing conversations happening in the construction industry right now. A generation of company owners is approaching the exit, and the question they keep running into is the same one: where does the money come from? Whether you are an owner looking to sell to a third party, transition…
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