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If your company is growing, you should be preparing right now for the the possibility that you'll have to change banks. Most companies don't prepare -- and often find themselves without enough credit when they need it most.

To avoid such a predicament, Gordon Jones, of Spectrum Systems Inc., makes a point of staying in touch with a number of banks besides the one that currently handles his company's business. While he has no complaints with his present lender, he realizes that his credit needs are growing along with his business, a Pensacola, Fla., service company that monitors air-pollution levels. "In the past, we've had $100,000 loans on signature. Now we want to be prepared to get a $250,000 loan unsecured, which involves a longer review process."

With that in mind, Jones sends other banks his financials on a regular basis, so that they'll be acquainted with the business if he ever needs to turn to them for a loan. "When an opportunity presents itself, I want to be able to take advantage of it," he says, "even if my current bank leaves me out in the cold."