Commercial Loans: Is Cross-Collateralization Killing Your Equity?
How to Audit Your Lending Portfolio for Hidden Liabilities
If you're a successful multi-property investor, congratulations—you're playing in the big leagues. But with scale comes complexity, and the biggest danger in a complex lending portfolio often isn't the current interest rate, but a seemingly innocuous term called cross-collateralization.
Cross-collateralization (or a "blanket mortgage") is when a lender secures a single loan by placing liens on multiple, separate properties you own. While this can sometimes expedite initial funding, it creates massive, long-term hidden liabilities that strangle your growth and equity.
The Cross-Collateral Trap: What You Need to Know
This arrangement is standard for many banks, but it creates a web of debt that makes strategic asset management nearly impossible.
3 Reasons This Debt Web Strangles Your Portfolio
1. Impaired Deal Flow & Sales:
• If you want to sell Property A, you often can't just pay off its specific portion of the debt. The lender can require you to pay off the entire blanket loan, or pay a hefty release fee ("release price").
• Result: The quick, profitable sale of a single asset becomes financially prohibitive.
2. Increased Risk Exposure:
• If you face a major market downturn or a default on the loan tied to Property A, the lender can legally seize Properties B, C, and D to cover their loss.
• Result: One single bad asset threatens the stability and security of your entire portfolio.
3. Hinders Refinancing Flexibility:
• Getting a better rate or structure on Property B is nearly impossible if it’s tied up with five other assets under one lender's control.
• Result: You lose the ability to shop around for the best market terms on an individual asset basis, increasing your cost of capital.
The Financial Health Check Solution
The only way to eliminate this structural risk is through a thorough Portfolio Review. Our service specializes in identifying these invisible liabilities before they impact your bottom line.
We Perform a Financial Health Check to Deliver:
• Map All Links: We clearly document every property, its loan, and which other assets are tied to it, providing a complete, organized view.
• Calculate Release Costs: We determine the actual, often prohibitive, cost of releasing individual properties from existing blanket liens and cross-collateral agreements.
• Develop a De-leveraging Strategy: We create a prioritized plan to gradually restructure or refinance your loans to establish clean, separate mortgages on each asset, maximizing your equity and protecting your entire portfolio.
Our Goal: To replace debt convenience with debt strategy. A clean portfolio ensures you control your assets, not your lender.
Ready to Free Your Equity?
If you own multiple investment properties and haven't had an outside party review the fine print of your debt structure, you are likely carrying unnecessary risk.
Celebrating National Entrepreneurs Day: The People Who Keep Business Moving
Every year, National Entrepreneurs Day reminds us of something powerful—our economy doesn’t move without the people willing to take risks, solve problems, and build something from nothing. Entrepreneurs are the innovators, the job creators, and the people who keep communities growing.
Whether you run a startup, a family business, or a growing company, today celebrates you—the courage it takes, the sacrifices you make, and the vision you’re building every day.
The Reality Behind Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship isn’t about luck or overnight success. It’s about:
Long nights
Early mornings
Endless problem-solving
Learning through failure
Adjusting when plans fall apart
And moving forward even when the path isn’t clear
Entrepreneurs are the backbone of small business—and small businesses are the backbone of America.
Why National Entrepreneurs Day Matters
This day isn’t just about recognizing businesses; it’s about acknowledging the people behind them.
Entrepreneurs are:
Innovators – They create solutions where none existed.
Leaders – They build teams and opportunities.
Connectors – They support local economies and communities.
Resilient Builders – They keep going when others would stop.
National Entrepreneurs Day is a chance to reflect on the journey, appreciate the challenges, and celebrate the wins—big or small.
Supporting Entrepreneurs Isn’t Optional
Small businesses need more than customers—they need strong systems, good banking relationships, smart financial strategies, and the right people around them.
That’s where consulting support becomes so important.
A strong partner helps entrepreneurs:
Navigate banking and lending
Improve operations
Build better financial clarity
Increase margins
Hire the right talent
Reduce the overwhelm
Entrepreneurs shouldn’t have to do it alone—and they shouldn’t think they have to.
2717 Consulting Celebrates You
At 2717 Consulting, we’re grateful to work with entrepreneurs every day—people who are shaping Oklahoma and building the future.
Our mission is simple:
Help entrepreneurs focus on growth by taking care of the work that slows them down.
Whether it’s banking relationships, loan packaging, operations improvement, or staffing support—we’re here to help you do what you do best: Build. Lead. Grow.
If you’re ready to strengthen your business and lighten the load, contact us today:
2717.consulting1@gmail.com
How to Recognize Pain Points in Your Business (and When to Call a Consultant)
Every business has pain points—those recurring problems that slow you down, drain resources, and keep you from growing the way you want. The challenge is that many owners are too close to the daily grind to clearly see the problems, let alone fix them.
That’s where a consultant can make all the difference. By bringing in a fresh perspective and proven strategies, consultants help identify the root causes of issues and create a roadmap for long-term success.
How to Recognize Pain Points in Your Business
1. Bottlenecks in Operations
Are certain tasks or departments always slowing things down? A bottleneck may be a sign of inefficient processes, unclear responsibilities, or outdated tools.
2. Financial Stress
Constantly worrying about cash flow, late payments, or difficulty securing loans? Financial strain is one of the clearest indicators of deeper business pain points.
3. Employee Burnout or Turnover
High turnover, constant recruiting, or stressed staff often point to underlying problems in operations, communication, or staffing strategy.
4. Missed Opportunities
If you’re losing deals, struggling to close financing, or falling behind competitors, it may signal gaps in planning, relationship management, or execution.
5. Lack of Time for Growth
If you’re always working in the business instead of on the business, it’s time to recognize that you may need outside support.
How Consultants Help Solve Pain Points
Consultants don’t just show up with quick fixes. They follow proven methods to identify and solve issues in a sustainable way.
Step 1: Discovery & Diagnosis
Through interviews, financial reviews, and process mapping, consultants uncover what’s really causing the issues—not just the surface symptoms.
Step 2: Strategic Analysis
Consultants use tools like SWOT analysis, financial modeling, and benchmarking to compare your business against industry standards and uncover gaps.
Step 3: Tailored Recommendations
Instead of one-size-fits-all solutions, a consultant develops action plans customized to your business’s needs—whether that’s improving banking relationships, refining operations, or strengthening staffing.
Step 4: Implementation Support
Great consultants don’t just hand you a report—they work alongside you to implement the solutions, track progress, and adjust as needed.
Step 5: Long-Term Partnership
Consultants can serve as an ongoing resource, helping you stay proactive and preventing future pain points from turning into major problems.
Final Thought
Recognizing pain points in your business is the first step. Deciding to bring in outside expertise is the game-changer. A consultant can save you time, reduce frustration, and help you focus on what matters most, growing your business.
At 2717 Consulting, we specialize in helping businesses identify their challenges, create practical solutions, and deliver measurable results.
Let’s talk about your pain points: 2717.consulting1@gmail.com
Why Strong Banking Relationships Are the Secret Weapon for Small Businesses
In business, your banker isn’t just someone who processes transactions—they’re a partner in your growth. Strong banking relationships with great banks and bankers can make the difference between getting approved for funding and missing opportunities, between weathering financial storms and struggling to survive.
When you invest in building these connections, you set your business up for long-term success.
Why Banking Relationships Matter
1. Faster Loan Approvals
Banks that know you and trust your business are far more likely to move quickly on loan applications. Strong banking relationships save time when you need funding most.
2. Better Loan Terms
Great bankers advocate for their clients. A trusted relationship can translate into lower interest rates, reduced fees, and favorable terms that save you money.
3. Guidance Beyond Banking
Experienced bankers understand industries and local economies. They can provide insights on trends, risks, and opportunities that help you make smarter business decisions.
4. Flexibility During Hard Times
When challenges arise—whether it’s cash flow issues, delayed receivables, or unexpected expenses—banks that trust you are more willing to work with you to find solutions.
5. Access to Expanded Services
From treasury management to digital tools, strong relationships open doors to services that can streamline your financial operations.
How to Build Strong Banking Relationships
Be Transparent: Share accurate financials and be upfront about challenges.
Stay Proactive: Don’t only call when you need something. Regular updates build trust.
Demonstrate Reliability: Meet deadlines, keep commitments, and manage your accounts responsibly.
Work With the Right Bank: Not all banks fit every business. Choose institutions that understand your industry and value small business clients.
The Takeaway
Strong banking relationships are more than a convenience—they’re a competitive advantage. They give you faster access to funding, better financial guidance, and stronger resilience in tough times.
At 2717 Consulting, we specialize in helping businesses build and maintain these critical relationships—so you spend less time chasing bankers and more time growing your business.
Ready to strengthen your banking strategy? Contact us at 2717.consulting1@gmail.com
Why Businesses and Job Seekers Win by Partnering With a Staffing Firm
Finding the right job—or the right employee—isn’t easy. Businesses struggle to fill roles with qualified candidates, while job seekers often face endless applications and little feedback. That’s where staffing firms step in.
By acting as the bridge between employers and talent, staffing firms create advantages for both businesses and individuals that are hard to match when working alone.
Advantages for Businesses
1. Faster Hiring
Staffing firms maintain a pool of pre-screened candidates, meaning open positions can be filled more quickly than through traditional job postings.
2. Access to Specialized Talent
Whether you need an accountant, administrative professional, or technical expert, staffing firms specialize in matching the right skills to your business needs.
3. Reduced Risk
Hiring mistakes are costly. Staffing firms help reduce risk by ensuring candidates are vetted for skills, cultural fit, and reliability before you make an offer.
4. Flexibility
From temporary placements to permanent hires, staffing firms give businesses the flexibility to scale their workforce up or down based on demand.
5. Time Savings
Instead of sifting through resumes and scheduling interviews, business owners and managers can focus on running their business while the staffing firm handles the legwork.
Advantages for Job Seekers
1. Access to Hidden Opportunities
Many companies don’t post all their openings publicly—staffing firms often get the inside track on roles you won’t find online.
2. Career Guidance
Staffing professionals can help refine your resume, prepare you for interviews, and even coach you on career paths in your industry.
3. Faster Placement
By connecting directly with employers, staffing firms can get your resume in front of decision-makers faster than applying through job boards.
4. Flexible Work Options
Want temporary work? Contract-to-hire? Permanent placement? Staffing firms can align opportunities with your goals.
5. Advocacy
You’re not just sending resumes into the void—you’ve got someone actively advocating for you with employers.
Final Thought
Whether you’re a business looking for reliable talent or an individual seeking the right career opportunity, partnering with a staffing firm gives you access to expertise, networks, and opportunities that you simply won’t get working alone.
At 2717 Consulting, we connect businesses with skilled accounting, finance, and office professionals, while helping job seekers find the right fit for their careers.
Looking to hire—or be hired? Contact us today: 2717.consulting1@gmail.com
Why Transparency With Your Bank Is Extremely Important
In business banking, trust is currency. A bank that trusts you will work harder to support you—offering better terms, faster responses, and more flexibility when challenges arise. That trust is built on transparency.
Too many business owners treat their bankers like gatekeepers, revealing only what they think will help get a “yes.” The truth? Withholding key information can backfire quickly, damaging your credibility and your relationship.
1. Transparency Builds Trust
Banks are in the business of managing risk. When you’re upfront about your numbers, challenges, and goals, your banker knows they can rely on what you say. This makes them more comfortable advocating for you when it matters most.
Pro Tip: Share both good and bad news early—before they have to ask.
2. It Improves Your Chances of Approval
When you hide details about debt, cash flow issues, or major changes, it’s not just risky—it’s a deal killer. A banker blindsided by undisclosed information will almost always err on the side of “no.”
Pro Tip: Explain the situation and how you plan to address it. Showing a solution is more important than pretending there’s no problem.
3. It Strengthens Your Long-Term Relationship
Banks reward reliable, honest clients with better rates, higher credit limits, and priority attention. Over time, transparency helps you move from being “just another account” to being a valued partner.
Pro Tip: Treat your banker like part of your team—loop them in on plans, wins, and concerns.
4. It Opens the Door to Opportunities
When your banker knows your real situation, they can suggest products, services, and resources that fit your needs—often before you realize you need them.
Pro Tip: Share your growth goals and upcoming projects. Your bank may already have tools to help you get there faster.
Final Thought
Transparency isn’t just about honesty—it’s a business strategy.
The more your banker knows, the better they can position you for success.
At 2717 Consulting, we help our clients prepare the right information, present it professionally, and build lasting relationships with their banks.
📩 Work with a team that keeps you lender-ready: 2717.consulting1@gmail.com