Two entrepreneurs put together a great business plan, and based on this, they applied for and received a small business loan. In a few years the business was very successful and the original loan was paid off. Sales grew quickly and keeping up with demand meant leasing a warehouse, stocking inventory and hiring employees. The successful owners applied for and received a quick business line of credit and business credit cards to float the debt during the course of business; all of the business credit applications required the business Tax ID and both of their personal Social Security Numbers. Then the economic situation changed and sales plummeted.

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