Kirstie Looks to KO Fat

Three years and negative 75 pounds later, Kirstie Alley and Jenny Craig are calling it quits. Alley announced on Friday that she’s stepping down as spokesperson for the $462 million dollar company. But, contrary to tabloid reports, the ex-‘Fat Actress’ (CBS) star was not dumped for being too heavy. Jenny Craig is now working with Queen Latifah with less-jokey ads about healthy dieting. “I wasn't the right person to do that,” said Alley, 57.

Meanwhile, the 5'7" comedienne, who says she now weighs around 150 pounds, still believes in dieting. Alley plans to launch her own weight-loss brand in 2009. That could be a good move: The U.S. weight loss industry is projected to grow 6% annually, according the Marketdata, which tracks all segments of the U.S. weight loss market. By 2010, weight loss will be a $68.7 billion dollar industry. Alley might not need to scramble to secure funding for her new diet venture. But for those of us operating on a slighter scale, financing a bright small business idea requires strategy. 

After you have completed a business plan that gives enough information about finances, cash flow projections and what kind of assets you have as collateral, it is time to think about how to get financial backing. If you are looking for a loan, take time to develop a relationship with a bank. “Come out of the blue and they’re not necessarily inclined to be as responsive,” says Hedy Ratner, Co-president of the Women’s Business Development Center, a non-profit based in Chicago, Illinois.  If you don’t have a bank already, ask for referrals from accountants, attorneys or your business association.