After years of working as a marketing executive at companies ranging from startups to major corporations, Jeanniey Walden was still surprised and frustrated that products and services that could improve people’s lives were not getting the publicity and traction they deserved. So, she decided to start her own television program, “LiftOff with Jeanniey Walden” to do just that.
Jeanniey’s 30-minute show is slated to air every other week in Atlanta and Tampa, as well as in New Jersey. It will feature segments focusing on improving viewers’ lives in a range of areas, including finances, careers, technology, and physical wellness.
A way to maintain ownership and control of her business
Despite having an offer of seed money from an investor, Jeanniey decided she wanted to maintain full control of her business and she chose to fund it entirely from her own savings and an American Express® Business Line of Credit1. “I wanted to launch this business on my own terms,” she recalls. Having been a Card Member since 2002, Jeanniey is a true believer in American Express. “Their quality of service is so high, I thought if I’m going to look for help getting my business off the ground, it’s going to be with Amex.”
After seeing a notice for the Business Line of Credit when she logged into her American Express Business Platinum Card®2 account, Jeanniey followed the link and applied online. “It was so straightforward, I clicked the button, and it took minutes to fill in the information in the application.” Jeanniey was approved for a line of credit. “I was beyond thrilled to get a line of credit that could help me grow my business.”
In her current ramp-up phase, Jeanniey has used her Business Line of Credit to hire producers, secure airtime, design her website, expand social media outreach, and other activities to get her name and brand out there. “It’s definitely helped me build pre-show buzz and get people excited about tuning in. For example, I used the funds to travel to the Consumer Electronics Show where I appeared on a panel. While there I also interviewed a number of entrepreneurs with great new products who will be future guests on my show. I couldn’t have done all that without those funds from Amex.”
Paying for startup expenses and funding future growth
As Jeanniey’s first taping days approach, she plans to tap funds from her Business Line of Credit to handle some of the many costs that will incur, including the film crew, scriptwriters, editors, as well as set design and construction. “And I absolutely intend to keep using the Business Line of Credit as the way to grow,” she adds. “The Amex funds have allowed me to ask myself ‘How do I want to grow? When do I want to bring on full-time staff? Do I want to use that money to extend to national distribution?’” She adds: “While I don’t know the answers right now, I do know American Express will definitely be part of the growth plan.”
Story Footnotes
1 American Express® Business Line of Credit offers access to a commercial line of credit ranging from $2,000 to $250,000; however, you may be eligible for a larger line of credit based on our evaluation of your business. Each draw on the line of credit will result in either a separate installment loan or a single repayment loan. All loans are subject to credit approval and are secured by business assets. Every loan requires a personal guarantee. For single repayment loans, we charge a total loan fee that ranges from 0.95%-1.80% of the amount you borrow for 1-month loans, 1.90%-3.75% for 2-month loans, and 2.85%-6.05% for 3- month loans. Single repayment loans incur a loan fee at origination and the principal and total loan fee are due and payable at loan maturity. There are no required monthly repayments for a single repayment loan. Repaying a single repayment loan early will not reduce the loan fee we charge you. For installment loans, we charge a total loan fee that ranges from 3-9% of the amount you borrow for 6-month loans, 6-18% for 12-month loans, 9-27% for 18-month loans, and 12-18% for 24-month loans. Installment loans incur a portion of the total loan fee for each month you have an outstanding balance. If you repay the total of the principal of an installment loan early, you will not be required to pay loan fees that have not posted for subsequent months. For each loan that you take, you will see the applicable loan fee before you take the loan. Once you take the loan, the loan fees that apply to that loan do not change. We reserve the right to change the loan fees that we offer you for new loans at any time. American Express reserves the right to offer promotions to reduce or waive loan fees from time to time. Not all customers will be eligible for the lowest loan fee. Not all loan term lengths are available to all customers. Eligibility is based on creditworthiness and other factors. Not all industries are eligible for American Express® Business Line of Credit. Pricing and line of credit decisions are based on the overall financial profile of you and your business, including history with American Express and other financial institutions, credit history, and other factors. Lines of credit are subject to periodic review and may change or be suspended, accompanied with or without an account closure. Late fees may be assessed. Loans are issued by American Express National Bank.
Single repayment loans may become available to eligible new and existing Business Line of Credit customers at different times.
If you elect to have your loan funds disbursed directly to a third party payee, you are required to provide accurate and complete payee information. Payees must be located in the US or US territories. The per transaction payee payment maximum is the lesser of your then available line of credit and $100,000. Not all payee industry types are eligible. We may refuse a payee in our discretion or for reasons beyond our control. Loan funds sent to your payee may take up to three (3) banking days to post to the payee’s business bank account, although payments may be delayed for a number of reasons and the payee’s bank may have their own policy regarding how quickly to post a payment.
If eligible, you can be approved in minutes for a line of credit from $2,000 to $250,000 when we are able to automatically obtain your business data and verify your bank account. If a manual review is required, it will take longer to provide you with a decision.
2 Individual Card Product application and approval required.
