“Ophelia” is a recently retired New York state corrections officer. I contacted her in advance of her incorporating her business. Her plans were to start a funeral home in the Queens borough in New York City.

After listening to her plans, I described what her banking relationship should look like once she was incorporated. She agreed, and seemed enthusiastic. I told her of a financial incentive the bank was offering at the time and that when we set up her banking relationship, she was eager to receive the incentive.

It took the state of New York eight weeks to approve her incorporation. When it was approved, I called Ophelia to let her know that she was now legal to do business in New York, and that we could now set up her banking relationship. She did not answer, so I left her a voicemail. Two days later, I called again and she did not answer. After two weeks, and several attempts, I finally reached her. She was different now. She was lukewarm at best about setting up her business. We did set up the banking relationship, and I asked her how she wanted to make an opening deposit. She asked me if I would simply transfer the money from her personal account. I checked, and her balance was less that the $25 minimum opening deposit.

It seemed as if the state’s long approval delay had sapped her enthusiasm for starting the business. Or, something had happened in her personal life that led her to hold off any action. Nonetheless, after about two more weeks of leaving her voicemails, she finally deposited $35 in her business account. After three months, the same $35 was still there with no other activity.

Moral of the story: Lack of strength equals lack of action which equals lack of sales which equals business failure.

**NOTE: All “Bankable Stories” were written by One Click Advisor founder James Chittenden and are true stories of clients that he assisted as a business banker. Names have been changed to protect client confidentiality.