Raising Private Money with Jay Conner How to Secure $100K+ at 0% Interest: Strategies From Patrick Pychynski and Jay Conner
Imagine getting access to $100,000—maybe even half a million dollars—of zero-interest capital for your business. No more draining savings, giving up equity, or risking your credit. Sounds too good to be true?
Not if you ask Patrick Pychynski, the proud US Marine veteran behind Stacking Capital, and a funding expert who’s helped over 300 business owners secure more than $17 million in zero-interest business credit.
On the “Raising Private Money” podcast hosted by Jay Conner, Patrick digs into the details of his unique approach, blending Marine Corps discipline with strategic finance. Here’s a closer look at the key insights from their conversation, and how you can apply these lessons to scale your own business—without the usual roadblocks.
Bankable Businesses: The Overlooked Asset
Patrick’s philosophy is simple: Your business is an asset, but most entrepreneurs don’t treat it that way. While real estate investors are accustomed to leveraging property for loans, Patrick points out that a well-structured business can open doors to significant, unsecured credit—if you know how to play the game.
He identifies four critical “legs” to making your company truly bankable:
- Lender Compliance: This involves ensuring that all information about your business—such as addresses, phone numbers, websites, and emails—is consistent across all relevant documents. Even small inconsistencies can flag your business for denial. For instance, using a PO box instead of a physical address or relying on a generic Gmail business email are pitfalls to avoid.
- Building Business Credit: Just as you have a personal credit score, your business needs robust credit profiles across bureaus like Dun & Bradstreet. Patrick suggests aiming for a FICO SBSS score of 160+ and a 70+ score across other bureaus.
- Financial Trade Lines: Don’t just open accounts for office supplies—seek true financial trade lines that reflect your company’s ability to handle and manage credit responsibly. Patrick recommends securing 10-15 such lines to mirror the scale of financing you hope to obtain.
- Bank Ratings: At least $10,000 as an average daily balance in your business account over the last 90 days shows you have the financial chops for serious funding.
Most businesses slip up on at least one of these points, which keeps them locked out of prime financing.
Zero-Percent Capital: The Credit Stacking Method
Patrick’s “credit stacking” approach isn’t a get-rich-quick scheme—it’s about working the system legally and smartly. By applying for multiple business credit cards with zero-percent introductory rates across different banks in a short timeframe (ideally with the help of relationship bankers instead of faceless online systems), you can maximize your available credit while minimizing risk.
Key steps Patrick recommends include:
- Optimize Personal Credit: Start with a strong foundation—700+ FICO score, low utilization, no delinquencies or stale collections.
- Leverage Relationships: Whenever possible, go into the branch and work with a relationship manager. Not only can they advocate for higher limits, but they’ll also often walk your application through manual underwriting—a step up from online algorithms.
- Plan for the Long Game: Don’t stack credit just for a short-term win. Have a clear plan for managing (and replenishing) your capital, optimizing your business’s bankability, and preparing for your next round of funding.
Marine Corps Discipline Meets Financial Chess
What sets Patrick apart isn’t just his technical grasp of credit; it’s the dedication and integrity he brings from his military service. His guiding principle, “Leave the place better than you found it,” carries through to every client engagement. Patrick and his team at Stacking Capital advocate for clients, guiding them through c