Trainer answering questions about the commercial loan officer business

Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? Don't worry, you are not alone! We took the questions we are asked every day about the commercial loan officer business and put them in this section to help you better understand our program. If at any time you have additional questions, or you feel that you are ready to take the next step in changing your life, please feel free to give us a call and speak to one of our representatives. Or you can complete our contact form and we will have one of our representatives call you.

How much money can a graduate really make?

Starting any business takes hard work and dedication and the same holds true for this business. To make a good income in this industry does not simply happen overnight despite what some other companies might say. Our business does present significant advantages over other businesses and franchise concepts but you still have to work hard at being successful. It takes hard work to build this business and our company gives you all the tools and guidence to maximize your businesses success in this industry. Our program allows you to make an unlimited income that is not restricted by geographical boundaries, whether you work full time or part time, or how much experience you have. It is very possible to achieve a high annual income with the financing products that you will be able to provide along with hard work and dedication. You can do large transactions that earn you more money from closing one deal than most people make in a year, or you can do several smaller transactions where the commission adds up on a monthly basis. Then there are also products that yield you residual income for years to come. This is where you receive a check every month for years and years for just closing one deal. Please don't mistake this for a "get rich quick" program. You will be dealing with real lenders, real clients, and carving out your share in the trillion dollar commercial finance industry. We give you the tools, products, lenders, education, and support to be the most successful in this business. The rest is your dedication and desire to make an unlimited income for years to come. Typically our graduates have the ability to begin to make their initial investment back with in the first 60 days after training.

Click here to view real life examples from our lenders as to how much money one could make.

Do I have to have an office to work out of?

Absolutely not. The perfect aspect of our program is the low overhead business model that allows you to operate from the comfort of your own home. Believe it or not, most lending officers of large financial institutions work from home as it cuts back on costs to the company. There are some people that prefer an office, but the choice is really yours.

Are you just trainers in this business?

NO, the founders of the Commercial Capital Training Group actually own and operate a successful national commercial finance company (specializing in all the products you will learn about), financing over $100 million dollars in commercial loans annually, and an investment real estate firm, both headquartered in Albany, NY, with offices in Atlanta. This very same company is one of the direct lenders you will be able to work with through this training for a specific commercial real estate financing product. In fact, that is where the finance business model we teach actually came from. As we like to say, we actually practice what we preach and we do this every day. We have the unique perspective and experience as a lender, a broker, and an educator in the commercial finance field which our graduates benefit from.

How much does your training program cost?

The cost of our training program is $22,950, which includes hotel, a credit towards your airfare, and everything else one would need to establish a finance company in this business model. You can also revisit in detail of what exactly you receive for your investment by clicking here. Starting any business requires some form of capital investment and we believe that our price is relatively low compared to what you could potentially make on an annual basis with any one of the 35 plus financial products you gain out of our training. Compared to franchises and business ventures where you have to hire and manage employees, buy inventory, and pay royalties if a franchise, our required capital investment is very reasonable, especially in light of the fact that there are very few expenses that are required to run this business. Plus, if you want to rapidly expand or grow your business model, we teach you how to do that at virtually no expense to you, unlike a franchise where you have to pay another franchise fee and incur the costs of starting another location. Where in some businesses it takes usually a year or so to recover your return on investment, with our program and financial products you can offer, it is very possible to make back your initial investment with the commission you could earn on just one transaction. Your profit margins are very high because your expenses or overhead are so low. Also, you are not really selling a service that you are trying to convince somebody that they need, such as life insurance, etc. You will find people and businesses are in desperate need of your service, which is providing capital in multiple ways. You are simply providing them a solution to solve their capital need, which every business has, and we are equipping you with every possible tool to help businesses with that capital need.

What are the expenses involved with starting this business?

Virtually none. The business model we teach takes the word "expense" out of starting a business. 95% of your costs to start this business are included in your one time investment of $22,950 with us. We provide a website, stationery package, free marketing leads and material, legal documents and forms, spreadsheets to help you analyze financial statements, and much, much more to start your business. The only things you need to operate this business are a phone and a computer and you're in business.

Is this a franchise?

NO. This is by far the most comprehensive commerical finance training program in the country where there are no ongoing fees or royalties paid after our program. Also, there are no territory or geographical restrictions with your business as you would have with a franchise. You own your own commercial finance business. The money you earn is yours to keep. Our support structure is there behind you for the life of your business. Best of all, we continue to bring you new lenders with innovative financing programs when made available to us, so the training does not stop after your visit with us.

Do I need experience to be successful?

Absolutely not. We have developed a financial training program that is easy to understand and implement by anybody with the right qualities. However, we do pre-qualify you prior to accepting you into our program. We look for key qualities in indivuduals that we determine are a great fit and attribute to this industry. We approve you with competitive lenders with a complete product offering, build the foundation for your business, and give you the necessary tools and support to operate a successful commercial finance company. This business is not hard to do or understand. The only thing you need to be successful is the entrepreneurial spirit, the qualities we look for, and the will to succeed.

Do you accept anybody through your program?

One of the many reasons our graduates are so successful is the fact that we actually pre-qualify people interested in taking our program. Unlike some other companies we have seen, we are not interested in having large classes of 15 people and simply accepting everybody who wants to take our program. Upon expressing interest in our program, you will go through an extensive interview process with senior management along with a confidential questionnaire that our senior executives use to determine whether we think you’re a good fit for this business model. We look for certain qualities that our lenders and we deem to be assets to success in operating a finance company. Finance experience is a plus, but you don’t have to have previous finance experience to be successful in this business. We look for qualities such as, but not limited to: Education, Previous Business Experience, Employment History, Previous Business Ownership, Sales Experience, Life Accomplishments, etc.

Why do we use this method? Well, we believe in QUALITY over QUANTITY. We've found that this process and business model produce more satisfied, more successful entrepreneurs. Our process also satisfies our lenders, showing them that our graduates are better qualified to help them develop more success in their own businesses. This kind of training is typically only found in franchise opportunities that cost well over $100,000 in startup costs (even though the cost of this business model is well under that). The bottom line is this: we have a vested interest in your long-term success. And we'll prove it with our continuous support, even after you've graduated.

Do you offer any special discounts on the price of your program?

Absolutely not. We are by far the most comprehensive commercial financing training program in the country, and with that comes value. We don’t believe in flashy sales tactics like throwing discounts out or the old “Act now and we will reduce our price” to entice people to take our training or fill our class. Again, we are very selective on who attends our training by making sure a prospect has certain qualities that we deem compatible with the commercial loan officer business. Be very careful of companies throughout the franchise and business opportunity industry that offer "special discounts." They try to disguise what their program or opportunity really offers with a price discount rather than sell you on the real facts and aspects of their business model. Sure, we care about our bottom line as any company would but not so far as to take anybody’s money or whatever they can offer to fill a seat in our conference room, only to have them be severely misled about what this program and industry is really about. An analogy that we like to use is this: It is hard to argue that a sports car such as a Ferrari isn't a very high quality engineered car. There is a lot of quality and craftsmanship that goes into building such a car. Can you go into a Ferrari dealership and ask for 50% off on any particular vehicle? We highly doubt that.

Can't businesses just go to their banks to get financing?

This is a common question that we are asked, and the answer is very simple. Every day small to large businesses go to a local or national bank and are refused commercial loan requests. These are not just bad credit businesses that are getting declined but also healthy and very profitable businesses. Banks these days decline about 90% of the business they see and only approve and fund the "cream of the crop" loans. This is partly due to the lack of secondary markets to which most banks used to sell their loans. Now most banks have to wait years or a certain timeframe before a secondary market institution will buy loans off the bank's books. Because of this requirement, now banks are forced to keep any loan that they do on their balance sheet longer, which poses a huge risk to that bank and forces them to only lend to businesses that really don't need capital. Because of this, most banks have tightened their credit criteria and have a "cookie cutter" system of what they will accept. If there is one aspect of a commercial loan request that does not fit their stringent criteria, such as loan amount, credit type, financials of the business, or industry, they will automatically decline the loan. More often than not, the owner of a business does not know how to get the proper financing that his business really needs. What is the most significant factor as to why a business fails? The answer is simply the inability to obtain capital.

This is not the case with the programs and lenders that you will be doing business with. You will be approved with specialized lenders, investors, and banks that cater to all different credits and industries. The lenders you will have can be as competitive as the largest banks you know of today. What makes our program and graduates so successful is they have the ability to offer a wide array of financing options for a business. Business owners are not used to having a company with the financing options you will have to work with them on getting capital. They are just used to the bank saying NO. You will have the ability to do it all and say, "YES! You are approved!"

What if I have a partner that wants to come with me to the training?

That is fine with us. There is no additional charge to bring somebody with you. It's actually a great idea as two minds are better than one.

How do we get business once we leave the training?

You will actually already have business waiting for you the minute you get home. We are the only company that guarantees you that we will provide businesses that are already looking and in need of your services when you get home. We feel that it is important to start your business with a competitive advantage. Our marketing program is second to none, and you will learn proprietary time-tested techniques and principles that work. We of course know this because our instructors actually do what you will be taught to do. With over 75 years of combined experience in the commercial finance industry, our trainers are seasoned veterans in commercial banking. With the marketing tools that are taught and provided, you should be able to target businesses and get clients fast. Our lenders will share their insights on how to get the business that they commonly fund. It is important to know that you don't need to be an expert sales person or start "cold calling" people to get business. You are not really selling your service but rather providing a solution to a business. We even spend time teaching you how to hire sales staff in your first year of business and have people bringing you transactions to fund. That is important knowledge to know in the event you want to grow your business.

Click here to learn more about our marketing program.

Is my money ever at risk if a loan goes bad?

After you have completed and closed a loan with a lender, you will get paid immediately. If any loan that you close should ever go into default, the commission you earned will never have to be returned. You don't have to worry about what happens after you get paid. You just focus on getting new business and growing your business.

Will there be competition once I start from other companies or past graduates?

NO. The commercial finance market is a trillion dollar industry with every business needing capital in one way or another. With over 100,000,000 businesses in the United States today, there is more than enough business to go around. More importantly, our graduates are unique specialists in the commercial finance industry. There are no other companies out there that will be able to offer the financial products and capabilities that your company will offer. Not even the largest banks offer the wide array of solutions that you will provide. Also, since your territory for clients is virtually the whole country and beyond, you will never be competing with a fellow graduate that might be located in your general area.

Can I do this opportunity part-time?

Absolutely. In fact, we have many successful graduates that have full time jobs and elect to do this business part-time. Many times the people who start out doing this part time quickly realize how much money they can earn and convert their business to a full time operation.

Why do lenders need people like your graduates to get business?

This is a very good question. Banks and lenders of all types use brokers to bring in business because it is a very cost effective way of advertising. Think about it. They would rather pay you a commission than spend money on big marketing budgets that might not work effectively half of the time. Also, there is no way they could possibly reach every business that needs their service, even with the biggest marketing campaigns. When they pay you a commission, they know they spent every dollar they pay you on a closed deal. When banks advertise, some of those dollars are not converted into actual closed loans. Simply, they have a better ROI or return on investment with brokers.

What makes your company so different from other opportunities?

That is a question that we love to answer and show people how we are truly different. In fact, we have a dedicated section on our website outlining this.

The Commercial Capital Training Group truly offers a one-of-a-kind program. Unlike many franchise agreements, our program doesn't limit your income potential. Other businesses and franchises tend to be limited to certain geographical areas, outside of which it is difficult to do business. Not with us. Our business model frees you to do business anywhere in the country and even internationally. Best of all, there are no ongoing fees to be paid as you would have with a franchise.

We also recognize there are some companies with limited programs that try to offer a similar concept as us. That is why we have a video at the link below clearly showing you how our program and training are far superior to any other program in the country. We love to show you exactly how we compare to other programs, and that is why we did a direct comparison of what we offer and what the others offer for your investment. But here are some quick important points to note when considering our program:

We teach and provide the most complete array of financial products and financing solutions to offer businesses. Period.
You will be associated with more lenders and private investors with us and actually meet them at training.
After you graduate, we provide you with guaranteed real-time financing requests from businesses that are in need of capital.
Your training does not stop after you leave. We are always bringing new programs and education to our graduates after the initial 6-day training at no additional cost to you.
You will have the ability to do higher loan amounts, up to $500 million or more, both domestic and international.
Our initial training is 7 days instead of 4, 3, or 2 days. You are here with us a full week!

We understand you want the best possible program for your investment. We are committed to showing you how our training program is your best possible choice.

Please click here to see how other companies compare to ours

You have so many lenders and programs...How can I learn all of this in 7 days?

We realize that we give you a lot of programs to profit from and that is exactly what makes our graduates so successful. Your company will truly be different from any other bank or financial business out there. We have developed a very simple program that allows you to easily understand each program and the industry in general. Over the 7 days that you're with us, you will learn and discover how easy this business really is to understand. Our innovative training techniques have made it possible for anybody to successfully understand and enter into this business. We cover every angle that you will need to successfully operate your business. Furthermore, you will be enrolled in our continuing education program, where we conduct webinars when a new lender or program becomes available to our graduates. The only hard part is finding and establishing relationships with lenders, but we already took care of that problem for you.

Is it necessary to have so many lenders to deal with?

Absolutely. What people and brokers that specialize in one segment of the industry don’t realize is that no two lenders are the same in what they finance. There are variables such as, collateral, credit, assets they invest in, maximum and minimum loan amounts, pricing, and how they structure their transaction. So if you don’t have the right lender for your client’s situation then you could lose out on commissions. More importantly, if you only specialize in one or two areas of finance, then you’re limited to only those two areas to offer clients and therefore leave your business open to market fluctuations. There are some products were the profitability and volume is directly tied to how the economy is doing. When the economy is struggling those products do not do so well. On the other hand, there are products that thrive in a weak economy. So by having a well-diversified business model, you insulate yourself and your business to what the economy is doing. Another reason is the opportunity of cross selling. So if a client comes to you for an equipment lease and you complete that financing request, he or she might need working capital down or something else down the road. So now your business becomes a one stop solution for all that clients financing needs. Typically you will see repeat business from the same client two or three times. You will not have to refer business away because again, you will have a diverse product offering covering all aspects if commercial finance.

What does my certification mean as an "accredited graduate"?

This means you have successfully completed our training program. It is a way of letting your lenders know that you have completed our training and are free to do business with them so they waive their typical 3 years' time in business and experience requirements. Some of our lenders that are part of our program only work with our graduates and nobody else. You can also show this certification to your clients to emphasize the credibility of your business and the fact that you know how to handle their needs. We often get reference calls from customers of our graduates verifying what we teach and that the graduate's company is certified to do business.

What kind of support will I have once I complete the training?

This topic is one of the many facts that make our company unique. We provide total support for the life of your business in any capacity that you want. Whether you need us to be on a call with a client or lender, or if you just have a few questions regarding a transaction, we are always here to advise and support you with your commercial finance business. If you are working on a deal over the weekend and have a question, no problem, our support staff is ready to answer your questions 7 days a week! In fact, the training does not stop after you leave our facility. We will continue to bring you cutting edge programs from banks and lenders when available. Our support staff will often hold webinars and group calls to make sure your business is on track and introduce new lenders when available. We will also educate and inform you of new marketing ideas and hot industry trends that frequently occur in the finance industry. Through our constant education, you will know when to take advantage of opportunities that we identify in the marketplace for years to come. No other training program offers this continuing level of support. To learn more about our dedicated support click here

Okay, I'm ready to speak to somebody...where do I go from here?

If you have more questions about our commercial loan officer business training program, or want to discuss this one-of-a-kind training program further, please feel free to call us directly at 518-694-3047. Or if you would like one of our representatives to call you at your convenience, please click here to complete our contact request form. There is no pressure or hard selling of our program to you because our program sells itself.