Local Couple Aids Small Business, Complements Bank Services with The Interface Financial Group (IFG) Franchise
Texarkana, AR (PRWEB) August 21, 2013 -- Steve and Karen Nipper spent years working in the banking industry in Southwest Arkansas and other regions of the country, and they have firsthand knowledge of the small business owner’s plight. According to the Small Business Administration, the availability of credit is one of the most fundamental issues facing a small business. When the couple recently returned to the area after a move to Florida for job opportunities, they decided to open an IFG franchise to bring financial relief to small businesses. As a result, they are able to help local businesses experiencing cash flow issues, and they provide bankers the ability to offer their clients alternative funding solutions.
“Karen and I run the IFG franchise together. We both have banking backgrounds, which doesn’t hurt because we can relate to the financial side of the industry,” says Steve Nipper about deciding to open the IFG Texarkana franchise.
The couple’s first foray into business ownership was an independent insurance agency in Arkadelphia. Then they sold it when Karen got an opportunity to transfer to Florida for a banking job. While in Florida, Steve completed a Master’s of Science in Astronomy, which he calls his hobby that got out of control. His hobby became a profession, albeit brief, when he took a job running a planetarium in Tampa, Fla.
After three years in Florida, the Nippers decided to move back home to be closer to family. They explain, “Going to a place to vacation and going to work are two different things. It was a little far from home … and the planetarium side-trip didn’t pay extremely well. So, it was back to making a better living.”
When they returned to Arkansas, Karen helped Steve manage his consulting business as a licensed senior executive advisor. As an executive advisor, Steve became aware of IFG, as the franchise was one of the businesses in his executive placement portfolio. After placing a few executives with IFG, the couple decided IFG was the key to their future success.
The couple says about choosing to go with IFG, “The reason we chose IFG is they have 41 years of experience. This is a very heavy networking- and marketing-focused business. We get most of our business through referrals; two thirds or more come from banks, bank lending officers, and word of mouth from people you’ve done business with - accountants, economic development people, etc…”
Some people in the financial industry may think it is counterintuitive for bankers to send referrals to IFG. But IFG is not competing with the bank. IFG doesn’t do loans. IFG doesn’t do deposits. They actually complement bank services by giving bank loan officers a way to help their small business customers when they are unable to extend a loan.
“When a bank loan officer has to turn down a loan request, and a small business owner asks, ‘Well, what am I supposed to do?’ We can give them a possible answer, and they can refer clients to us,” explains Steve Nipper. “It’s better that they can refer them to us and it doesn’t sour their relationship by simply saying no. It’s nice because we’re helping them by giving them an alternative.”
About The Interface Financial Group
The Interface Financial Group (IFG) is North America’s largest alternative funding source for small business. IFG provides short-term working capital funding in the form of a unique Invoice Discounting service. The company serves clients in the manufacturing, service, and construction sectors. Interface operates from a base of 140+ franchise offices in the United States, Canada, the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand. IFG’s innovative Invoice Discounting service is a fast and easy way to turn receivables into cash. For more information, visit http://www.interfacefinancial.com.
Brian Hugins, Interface Financial Group, http://interfacefinancial.com/, +1 (919) 459-8165, [email protected]
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