So you’ve got great credit. 700 or above. And you’ve got plenty of collateral. As an entrepreneur trying to secure a loan with your business plan, you’re probably wondering if there’s anything else you can do in this market to help secure funding. While having good credit, sufficient collateral, and a solid business plan gets you further than most entrepreneurs, you might want to check out these tips from the head of the Small Business Administration in Portland, Oregon, Harry DeWolf, who spoke with the Oregonian this week. He gave a few hints (indirectly) on small ways you can improve your business plan to increase your shot at securing a loan:

“Quite a few people are having trouble because they don’t have the collateral that they need to support a loan, especially with home and property values going down. That real estate was the collateral or equity that many were relying on.

Banks are now being very careful. Loans are an investment for them and they don’t want to lose their money. Banks are requiring that businesses really present themselves well and show that the loan will increase business and improve their ability to repay.”

That’s an important point. Your business plan shouldn’t suggest that you need a loan as an emergency stop-gap just to keep your business afloat. That automatically makes you and your business look like a serious risk. Bearing in mind that above all else bankers are risk averse—particularly these days when they can’t stand to lose more cash—that’s a bad thing. Instead your business plan should clearly demonstrate how a loan will boost your business or sales—and more to the point, your ability to repay the loan. Another tip he offers entrepreneurs who are trying to secure a loan is that you should outline how your business has responded to the economic crisis. When asked whether small business owners should be borrowing at all in this economy, he responds:

“Not all businesses should be borrowing now, but getting a loan can be a good business decision for many, especially businesses that are trying to grow or change their product or service to meet the current market.

The most resilient companies have lots of different ways of selling their products or services to different markets.”

Since resilient = able to pay back loan, it’s worth describing things you’ve done (or will do) to bolster sales in this market in your business plan. The real take-home message here though is one we’ve repeated before, but it’s particularly relevant these days: your business plan should do what it can to make your start-up look like a solid investment—not a risk. Collateral and good credit get you two-thirds of the way there, a solid business plan does the rest.