A Year on Lark Street — and a New Idea Brewing

For just over a year, Tyrone Pompey has been holding it down on Lark Street in Albany, New York, serving up pizza, wings, and the kind of comfort food you can smell half a block away. Business was steady. The regulars knew their orders before they even walked through the door. But something new was happening — customers were asking for more.

Not just more pizza. Different flavors. Different styles. Soul food. Latin dishes. Something that reminded them of home, wherever home might be.

Tyrone realized he already had the talent in his kitchen to make it happen. A few of his staff grew up cooking soul food that could make you close your eyes and hum after the first bite. Others knew how to whip up authentic Latino dishes that you’d swear came straight from a family recipe book.

The vision was clear — expand the menu, upgrade the equipment, and give the seating area a warmer, more inviting vibe. But visions don’t pay for ovens, fryers, and extra tables. He’d need a business line of credit to make it happen.

Taking the Bank Route

After talking it over with his wife and business partner, Tyrone decided not to dip into their emergency cash fund. Instead, they headed to their bank, KeyBank, thinking this would be the first step toward financing the expansion.

The KeyBank representative greeted them warmly and said they could help — but “could help” came with a long list of requirements.

To qualify for a KeyBank business line of credit, they would need:

• A credit score of 700 or higher for an unsecured line (collateral required for lower scores)

• At least 3 years in business

• Collateral in the form of equipment, inventory, receivables, or personal assets

• A personal guarantee

• 2–3 years of business and personal tax returns

• Current and historical financial statements

• Accounts receivable and accounts payable aging reports

• Collateral documentation, legal organizational documents, and personal financial statements

And after all that? Approval could still take three to six months.

Tyrone sat there, doing the math in his head. Six months of waiting meant losing the momentum he had right now. Customers wanted these new dishes now, not next summer. “Six months? You gotta be out of your mind,” he thought.

A Dinner That Changed Everything

Frustrated, Tyrone and his wife decided to put the idea on hold — at least for the moment. A few nights later, they were having dinner at Red Lobster in Colonie, New York, when they ran into Tyrone’s friend Malik.

Malik owns a construction business, and as they caught up, Tyrone learned Malik had gone through the same struggle. He needed new equipment and more workers, so he’d gone to KeyBank for a business credit line. Same story. Same requirements. Same dead end.

But Malik’s ending was different. Someone had told him to skip the traditional banks and reach out to Swan Street Consulting in Albany, New York. Swan Street Consulting helps small businesses with services like business financing, bookkeeping, marketing, and websites. Through their partner, ROCK Financial, they got Malik approved for a $120,000 business line of credit.

The Simple Way

Malik broke it down for Tyrone:

Instead of years of tax returns, decade-long credit histories, and collateral paperwork, all ROCK Financial needed was:

• Six months in business

• Six months of bank statements

• A credit score of at least 600

• Gross sales of $10,000 per month (gross, not net)

Malik filled out a short application. Within 24 hours, he was approved. Three days later, the money was in his account. No endless back-and-forth. No months of waiting. Just speed, simplicity, and the ability to start growing immediately.

Sure, the interest rate could fluctuate, but Malik wasn’t worried. The way he saw it, with the revenue from the expansion, he could pay down the revolving credit line and refinance later if needed.

Tyrone Makes the Call

The next morning, Tyrone reached out to Swan Street Consulting. They sent him to their partner portal at ROCK Financial, where he filled out a short application. A representative called back within 24 hours for some additional information. Tyrone provided six months of bank statements and two years of tax returns — and that was it.

The benefits? Same-day funding once approved, cash flow management options, flexible repayment terms, interest charged only on the amount used, and the ability to access as much as $5 million in funding if needed. Tyrone opted for the same $120,000 credit line as Malik, knowing it was more than enough to upgrade his kitchen, refresh his seating area, and stock up on new ingredients.

The Bottom Line

If you’ve been turned down by traditional financing, or you simply don’t have the time to wait through their drawn-out process, Swan Street Consulting offers a faster, simpler path. With their partnership with ROCK Financial, you can get the funds you need in days — not months — and start growing your business immediately.

All you need is:

• A 600 credit score

• Six months of bank statements

• $10,000/month in gross sales

• Six months or more in business

For Tyrone, the difference was night and day — from “maybe” in six months at the bank to “approved” in just one day.

Disclaimer: Swan Street Consulting is not a lender. They partnered with ROCK Financial to offer Albany, New York and Capital Region businesses the opportunity to obtain a business line of credit for their business.

If you are interested in applying for a business line of credit, please click the link or call 518-227-1435.