# 257: Thinking Differently About Access to Capital in Manufacturing featuring CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen)

- Show: [Manufacturing Happy Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour)
- Published: 2025-10-14
- Length: 1h 05m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla
- Listen: http://manufacturinghappyhour.com

## Summary

Erik Skie, Jon Hughes, and Aaron Traut from CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen) discuss how manufacturers can improve access to capital by shifting their mindset from margin-focused quoting to capacity utilization. They explain that profitability is a decision driven by shop floor activities, and that banks look for strong cash flow and efficient asset use rather than just high margins. The panel also covers current opportunities like bonus depreciation under the Big Beautiful Bill Act and the Made in America initiative to help manufacturers finance expansion and reduce risk.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=0) Introduction and Guest Backgrounds
- [5:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=336) Profitability as a Decision and Capacity Utilization
- [15:05](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=905) The Mental Shift: Margin vs. Incremental Profit
- [28:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=1730) Managing Balance Sheets and Income Statements
- [32:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=1962) How Banks Evaluate Lending Risk
- [37:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=2268) Internal Working Capital and Alternative Capital
- [54:24](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=3264) Bonus Depreciation and Real Estate Strategy
- [59:42](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/manufacturing-happy-hour/2025-10-14-257-thinking-differently-about-access-to-capital-in-manufacturing-featuring-cla#t=3582) Made in America Initiative and Closing Thoughts

## Topics

- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Policy, trade & tariffs](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/policy-trade-and-tariffs)
- [Leadership, teams & culture](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/leadership-and-culture)

## Most relevant to

established companies

## Mentioned

- CLA (company)
- CliftonLarsonAllen (company)
- Moxa (company)
- Big Beautiful Bill Act (other)
- Made in America (other)
- SBA (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [The Success Trap: How Winning the Big Contract Can Also Break You w/ Chris Hale](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2026-08-04-the-success-trap-how-winning-the-big-contract-can-also-break-you-w-chris-hale) (The Manufacturing Executive)
- [Cash Is King](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-11-26-cash-is-king) (The Amp Hour)
- [070: Financing & Acquisition for Product Companies](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2021-04-08-070-financing-acquisition-for-product-companies) (Product Startup)
- [161: Build a Manufacturing Facility for Your New Product](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/product-startup/2023-02-02-161-build-a-manufacturing-facility-for-your-new-product) (Product Startup)
- [How to Fix a Factory: Influencing the Direction of Your Company  w/ Rob Tracy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-manufacturing-executive/2020-07-28-how-to-fix-a-factory-influencing-the-direction-of-your-company-w-rob-tracy) (The Manufacturing Executive)

## Citing this page

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