by Robert A. Woods Builders who have an open line of credit at their bank sleep better at night than builders who don't. A line of credit means you don't have to sweat bullets on the tenth of the month when you can't pay your bills because your clients haven't paid theirs. With a line of credit, one call to your bank and cash is automatically transferred into your checking account. What Is a Line of Credit? A line of credit is simply a specific amount of money the bank has set aside with your name on it. The money is yours to use to run your business as you see fit: You can draw the full amount of the line