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Author: Dillon Rust | Owner of Dilly-Bird Woodworks LLC
Major: Transportation and Logistics Management
Graduation: May 2026
Abstract: After a few years in business, I reached the point where I needed to upgrade one of my machines to take on larger jobs. With concepts from my corporate finance class in mind, I made the decision to use debt as a tool to acquire a new jointer.
In 2022, I started my custom furniture business called “Dilly-Bird Woodworks.” My early tools were gifts from my dad and grandpa, but over time, as business and jobs grew, I needed more machinery to keep up with demand and ensure high quality for every piece I made. I started off by saving money until I could purchase the machinery with cash which worked for a while. However, in late 2025, I came to the point where I generated numerous leads that would require one of my machines (a jointer) to be upgraded. The problem was I did not have the cash up front to make the purchase.
I come from a family where debt is extremely frowned upon. While that mindset is great to have when it comes to personal credit cards and some loans, it does not always translate well over to business. I learned in my corporate finance class that debt is a powerful tool that a business can use to grow. With corporations, it can signal growth and development if the return on investment justifies the debt. With that in mind, I decided to finance a new jointer that would allow me to improve the production process for large items. The new machine has allowed me to take on high-value jobs and complete them much more quickly than before the upgrade.
