Most business owners believe the funding conversation starts when they need a loan.
The reality is that the smartest businesses begin planning for capital long before they need it—and accountants should be at the center of those conversations.
In this episode of the Growth Minded Accountant Podcast, Lee Reams sits down with Sven Nelson, Founder and Owner of Aevi Business Capital, to explore how businesses can make better financing decisions by involving their accountant before pursuing loans, lines of credit, or alternative funding.
Rather than viewing capital as simply "getting approved," Lee and Sven explain why funding decisions should align with long-term business goals, cash flow, growth strategy, and exit planning. They also discuss why many business owners unintentionally make expensive financing mistakes by waiting until they're under financial pressure.
Whether you're a CPA, EA, bookkeeper, CFO, or business owner, this episode provides a practical framework for understanding modern business financing and the growing role accountants can play in capital advisory.
Want to build a more advisory-focused accounting firm?
Get your free Growth Breakdown from CountingWorks PRO:
We know that everyone digests information differently. That’s why we’re now sharing the full transcript of each episode of The Growth Minded Accountant right here on the CountingWorks PRO blog. Whether you’re short on time, like to scan and highlight, or simply prefer reading over listening, you can catch up on every conversation at your own pace.
Each week, we cover topics that matter most to tax and accounting professionals—from AI and automation to marketing strategies, firm growth, and client relationships. Scroll down to read the full episode, or subscribe to the podcast to listen on the go.
Lee Reams
Welcome to the Growth Minded Accountant Podcast, where our experts share best practices for running your firm in the digital age. This podcast is brought to you by CountingWorks PRO.
Welcome back to another episode of the Growth Minded Accountant Podcast. My name is Lee Reams. I'm the founder and CEO of CountingWorks and our sister company, TaxBuzz. Today we're pivoting slightly from our recent discussions about advisory work, how to stand out, how to position your firm, and how to be more relatable. Those topics help during the selling process, but today we're going to dig deeper into an area I believe many accountants are missing: client capital decisions.
We call it capital advisory. Most business owners chase capital after they feel pain. They don't fully understand the true cost of capital, and they often optimize simply for getting money instead of protecting cash flow or maintaining control. Before speaking with their accountant, they usually talk to bankers, brokers, or investors. As the title of our podcast suggests, growth-minded accountants should be involved much earlier because they're the advisors who understand real cash flow, tax implications, long-term planning, and exit consequences.
Today's guest is Sven Nelson, Founder and Owner of Aevi Business Capital. He has more than two decades of experience in commercial finance. We're going to discuss small- and medium-sized business lending, debt, lines of credit, and how accountants can play a much larger role in capital advisory.
Sven Nelson
Thanks for having me, Lee. I've worked in commercial collections and commercial finance for more than two decades. My commercial collections agency has helped tens of thousands of clients recover more than $650 million in bad debt.
Over the years I noticed that many business owners who ended up in collections weren't bad people—they were good people caught in difficult situations. I realized that better education about capital and financing options could have prevented many of those problems. That's why I started Aevi Business Capital with my son, Logan, in 2022.
Lee Reams
That's fascinating because you saw the consequences first and then built a company designed to help business owners avoid them. Why do you think so many people reach the point of collections instead of seeking help earlier? Is it a lack of education? Do they simply think their bank is the only option?
Sven Nelson
I think it's a combination of those things. Most business owners don't know what financing options are available or where to go. Our goal is to educate them, understand their situation, and help them choose the right type of capital before they make an expensive mistake.
Lee Reams
When a business owner wants to grow, hire employees, purchase equipment, or bridge a temporary cash-flow gap, every funding option isn't appropriate. That's why capital planning should begin before the need becomes urgent. Growth-minded accountants can help clients identify the right strategy long before they're forced to react emotionally.
Why should accountants be involved in business financing decisions?
Accountants understand a client's financial health, tax situation, cash flow, and long-term objectives, making them valuable advisors before financing decisions are made.
What is capital advisory?
Capital advisory is the process of helping businesses evaluate financing options, understand borrowing strategies, and choose funding solutions that align with long-term business goals.
What's the difference between a term loan and a line of credit?
A term loan provides a fixed amount of money that's repaid over time, while a line of credit offers flexible access to funds that can be borrowed and repaid as needed.
Why are Merchant Cash Advances (MCAs) considered risky?
MCAs are repaid through future receivables, often with daily or weekly payments. While they provide quick access to capital, they can significantly reduce cash flow and become very expensive.
What is credit card stacking?
Credit card stacking involves strategically obtaining multiple business or personal credit cards with introductory 0% interest offers to create short-term working capital.
When should a business begin planning for financing?
Ideally before capital is needed. Planning early provides more financing options, better approval odds, and reduces the likelihood of making emotional borrowing decisions.
Listen to other podcast episodes or read other related blog articles with relevant information and insights.
