The Small Business Administration is more active than ever today in granting loans to help small business owners start up or rev up their companies. And it doesn't take a financial or legal background to put in a successful loan request, either. This popular advisor gives all the facts, clearly and methodically guiding readers through every step of the process.

• Revised to include current lending statistics, new information on eligibility requirements, and a chapter on the ACE-Net finance matching service.

Patrick D. O'Hara (Fremont, California) is the founder of OTEK Enterprises, a management consulting firm. His previous books include The Total Business Plan (Wiley).