WELCOME !

Thanks for dropping in for some hopefully great business info and on occasion some hopefully not too sarcastic comments on the state of Business Financing in Canada and what we are doing about it !

In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.

Every day we strive to consistently deliver business financing that you feel meets the needs of your business. If you believe as we do that financing solutions and alternatives exist for your firm we want to talk to you. Our purpose is simple: we want to deliver the best business finance solutions for your company.



Thursday, January 31, 2013

Canadian Business Financing


We think we are being followed !



As our Business Financing Canada Blog hits 3000 page views per month and approaches 50,000 we want to thank the people
from Canada and all around the world who take the time to read it and call re: their financing needs.

Here's the data from that GOOGLE guy :



CLICK ON THE PIC















Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.

7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com



An Asset Based Lending Loan Via An ABL Lender ? Things You’re Not Being Told!




A Conspiracy Theory In Business Credit Lines? !




OVERVIEW – Information on accessing the right debt capital and asset based financing choices in Canada via an ABL lender. The Asset based lending loan is a solid alternative to a bank credit line





An Asset Based Lending Loan. When it comes to a business line of credit via an ABL lender we sometimes think that there is a bit of a conspiracy theory when it comes to information the Canadian business owner or manager has when it comes to Canadian business financing.

Why is that ?Well we certainly didn’t read it in the National Enquirer, so we I suppose its just a notional feeling in talking to clients that they have been misinformed when it comes to alternatives in a commercial business credit facility . Let's explain.

In the U.S., and certainly less in Canada! asset based credit lines are an absolute cornerstone in commercial borrowing. They in effect replace Canadian chartered bank lines of credit and are essentially ' non bank' in nature. There's an interesting sidebar to our information we're sharing in that the banks are actually in the ABL business also, but it's a bit of stealth marketing we feel given that none of our clients certainly seem to know that! But we digress..!

These commercial credit facilities are conceptually the same as the bank credit lines, except that they often collateralize more assets, and, here's the kicker, they provide more working capital, cash flow and liquidity pretty well 99.999% of the time. In fact we personally with clients have never NOT seen the ABL loan provide the same or less business cash flow, it's always been more! Intrigued?

The cornerstone of the ABL credit is the flexibility it provides, as you are simply, under one umbrella, monetizing all your business assets. We were thinking about this the other day and perhaps another way to explain it is that this type of commercial borrowing is similar to the home equity credit line, where under one security agreement you can draw your funds for any purpose.

The assets that are monetized under an Asset Based credit are:

Receivables
Inventory
Equipment
Real Estate - if applicable


The equipment must of course be unencumbered, and the real estate, if it’s applicable in your firm’s situation uses the equity that's left in your real estate, i.e. the un-mortgaged amount.

Some readers might think that all of this might sound a little complex, but the reality is that the ABL line operates 100% in the same manner as a bank line of credit, i.e. the same security agreements, and the same daily method of usage as you draw down on the facility as you sell and collect for your products and services. That differences again - more liquidity, as A/R is typically margined at 90%, inventory in the 25-75% range, plus the added bonus of throwing your fixed assets into the borrowing mix.

We've talked a lot about similarities in the facility. but are there some differences? Two major differences are pricing and reporting. Briefly speaking pricing can vary. While it can be the same or less expensive thank bank financing in most cases it’s more expensive, but the benefit is the additional cash flow it brings into your company. And secondly there is more monthly reporting on the assets that fall under the credit facility. In our experience that additional reporting often makes your company a much sharper run machine as you understand your business a lot better. Trust us!

So, back to that conspiracy theory! We're still not sure we can prove it, so can we just leave it that it’s up to you to investigate an asset based lending loan via an ABL lender. Discover the difference in commercial borrowing in a manner you just may have never been told about. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor.


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN ASSET BASED LENDING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/abl-lender-asset-based-lending-loan.html





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com























Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Cash Flow Finance Challenges? Will Your Company ‘ Break’ Tomorrow?








Working Capital And Cash Lifelines In Canada




OVERVIEW – Information on cash flow finance solutions and alternatives in Canadian business .




Cash flow finance in Canada continues to be recognized as the lifeline for your business. We're always preaching that, so to get a little bit of vindication once in awhile is a good thing. On Jan 26/2013 one of Canada's two national daily business journals again touted in it's headline ' CASH FLOW - THE LIFELINE TO BUSINESS SUCCESS '.

So how does the business owner address and solve the issues created by the need for working capital survival and growth. In the article in question it was pointed out that having proper cash management in effect ' stabilizes' your company. It was also pointed out that most of the important decisions your company makes ultimately involve cash considerations of some type.

Let's explore some techniques, and, as importantly, some solutions that come with the challenge of cash flow finance. At the start you have to have some sort of meaningful info. A lot of the business owners and financial managers we meet, certainly in the SME sector, have the data; they just don’t know what to do with it!

In effect you need to constantly be looking for ' clues ‘

in your company financial info that will allow you to resolve, with practical solutions, the challenges you face in financial management.

How solvent is your firm? It’s not the worse question for the owner/manager to ask herself or himself. In the past it was bankers that would always be addressing this issue, today there are numerous other finance providers that are in a position to ask the same question. They are in fact looking for ' link' in you data and, dare we say it, the probability of business failure.

A lot of financial types focus on one calculation called the ' current ratio '. There probably isn’t a more misleading piece of data, in our opinion, given that it does not reflect asset turnover, it just affects asset size. Simply speaking, if you have a lot of a/r and a lot of inventory your current ratio is high - but if you're not collecting properly, or inventory is obsolete or slow turning.... well we think you get the point.

Other ' relationships ‘(some call them ratio ... we don’t) are a lot more effective in understanding your cash flow problems, and needs. They include a gross cash flow calculation, which is simply your income plus depreciation. We actually encourage clients to look at the rate of inventory and receivable turnovers which can be calculated with just a couple ' data points ' from your financials.

So that brings us to some of those working capital and cash solutions available to your firm today. What are they?

They might include, but are not limited to:

Receivable financing

Inventory finance

Non bank asset based lines of credit

P O / Supply Chain /Contract financing

Monetization of tax credits

Sale leasebacks


To understand how you can better asset cash flow finance issues see out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in both techniques of analysis, and , more importantly, implementing those solutions.



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN CASH FLOW FINANCE EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/cash-flow-finance.html





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com




















Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Corporate Asset Finance . Feeling Overwhelmed . How A Lease Company Addresses Your Issues






Ever thought about cradle to grave in terms of Asset financing In Canada ?



OVERVIEW – Information on corporate asset finance in Canada . Can A Lease Company Solve Your Business Financing Problems ?





Corporate Asset Finance has the ability to be very complex today - the positive news being there are a number of options for the Canadian business owner / financial manager to choose from. That might be a lease company, a bridge loan provider, or even a Canadian chartered bank. The owner/manager can then be forgiven for not truly grasping the benefits, and risks, of asset finance. Worse, more often than not available advantages and benefits are underutilized.

One way to take control of the asset finance concept is to utilize the services of a financing expert. Truth be told it is a rare breed of business owner or manager that has the background in credit, law, finance, tax , and accounting that are all part of the asset finance equation.


One way in which the asset finance question is often overlooked is simply the inability of the owner and manager to look at asset financing from a ‘cradle to grave ‘point of view


So what are those starting to end points when it comes to corporate asset finance via your lease company or other alternative financial institution? First of all the borrower has to have a strong sense of the general marketplace – that is probably one of the greatest areas of misinformation or confusion. We talk to countless clients who simply don’t understand the lay of the land when it comes to asset financing – namely who are the players in the asset arena they are playing in? We can’t count the number or times we’ve seen a client who has previously spent a lot of time dealing with the wrong players and the wrong offerings. To put it simply, they don’t understand the lay of the land!




After getting a strong handle on the overall market your firm has to have some sort of evaluation criteria. Those criteria involve rate, term, structure, useful economic life, etc. Documentation, tax and accounting issues, as boring or mundane as they might sometimes seem are critical to ‘best practices ‘in asset finance.

In entering a lease or asset finance transaction your company needs to know how this particular finance transaction can make or lose your company money. That might come from understanding applicable rate structures, or perhaps knowing your firm might have the bargaining power to issue a tender to solicit asset finance bids. The big boys and government does it - can you? Sometimes you can . Not always, but sometimes!


Key issues in accounting and finance play a key role in asset finance.
They might include depreciation policies, or simply your choice to enter into an operating off balance sheet type transaction.
Part of the business of asset finance is of course knowing the long term economic value of the assets you’re financing. Your overall financing strategy brightens significantly when you’re keenly aware of asset resale values and obsolescence issues.

Want to get a solid handle on the pros and cons of corporate asset finance in Canada, dealing with a lease company or commercial finance firm. If you don’t know it all (who does? ) seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business asset financing advisor who can assist you in getting un-overwhelmed!



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CORPORATE ASSET FINANCE EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/corporate-asset-finance-lease-company.html
















Monday, January 28, 2013

How Good Receivable Factoring Companies Work In Canada








How Much Money Can Nuances Save You ?

In Factoring.. Thousands !!




OVERVIEW – Information on receivable factoring companies in Canada . How can the business owner benefit from an A/R finance strategy that maximizes the obvious and not so obvious benefits of this powerful cash flow tool.




Receivable factoring companies in Canada. Can a good one save you money on A/R financing costs, while delivering the benefits of Canada's newest cash flow financing tool ? We think so .. and here's why.

As most business owners and managers know. its not always about the obvious in business. Sometimes those ' subtle nuances ' are quite important! So while the obvious benefit of AR Finance is simply receiving the majority of your cash for sales you generated that day this overall financing strategy has other benefits also. And while key benefits might be the same, the type of firm you deal with and how they price their financing is key. That's where the ' saving money ' concept comes in where we're doing apples to apples comparison.



One way that many firms in fact do not assess a receivable finance offering is the concept of being able to alter their payment terms strategy. If the business owner/manager was previously unable to compete with others offering your clients better payment terms you have now leveled the playing field. As long as your gross margins can absorb the cost of that 30 days of extra financing , or 60???.. you're in a position to potentially gain more business with the use of receivable factoring companies.

So back to those nuances. What do you really need to focus on after you have decided to adopt an A/R financing strategy? First of all you need to understand how the receivable finance firm makes it money, as all businesses are of course focused on making reasonable profits relative to their risk.

In factoring your pricing is going to come from an analysis of your total sales volume, how much you’re going to finance on an ongoing basis, the average size of your invoices, number of clients, and the overall general credit worthiness of your firm and your clients. With A/R finance your firm doesnt have to have the same level of bank quality financial statements that you would in fact require to be able to borrow these sums from the bank.

So lets get back to some of those nuances, which, when understood make your firm a winner in the cash flow and working capital game. It's feels like a game sometimes, doesnt it? as do other aspects of business.

A solid receivable factor company won’t insist you finance all your sales, especially if you don't need that extra cash. Remember also that a good partner finance firm will be charging you on a per diem basis, with no tricks in between that. What does that mean? Simply that if your client pays in 42 days as an example that you are in fact only charged for 42 days, not the nearest increment of 45 or 60 days!

We encourage clients, either on their own, or with a credible financing advisor to understand the true benefits of asset turnover. Prior to cash flow financing using factoring your firm was unable to significantly grow sales and borrow all the working capital you need to achieve that goal.

So when you use factoring to eliminate the cash flow gap you will find that your income statement and revenues and profits are nicely positioned to enhance your business significantly. Profits don't equal cash flow as most business owners painfully find out - and that’s where A/R finance solves the mystery of growing your business with all the capital you need.

One final tip. And as far as nuances go, it’s a big one. Consider a confidential invoice factoring strategy. You will achieve all the benefits of the ' main street' ' ' traditional' factoring offered by most companies while at the same time maintaining full control of all your billing, collecting and client relationships.

Want to understand some of those ' nuances' in a better fashion. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with a working capital solution and strategy that makes sense.


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN RECEIVABLE FACTORING EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop
- founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/receivable-factoring-companies-canada.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com























Sunday, January 27, 2013

Canada SRED Tax Credit Program Financing . Still Here!







Here We Go Again . One More Time –

SRED Finance Loans Are Here To Stay


OVERVIEW – Information on the Canada SRED Tax Credit Program . Financing Your SR&ED Credit Is Still 100% Available!



The Canada SRED Tax Credit. We're reminded of Mark Twains great quote ' the reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated ‘, as there isn’t a day these days when we don't hear of the SR&ED Research credit under attack , even its demise predicted .

And there is always one trouble maker in the crowd. Witness Jan 23 / 2013 - a large article in Canada's national business newspaper - its headline said it all ' Too much support for small R&D '. They might as well have drop kicked Canadian innovators in the gut! , don’t you think?



The premise of that article was that the current approximately 44% non repayable subsidy that close to thousands (yes thousands of firms, including your competitors) of Canadian businesses get when they submit a SRED credit application.

The author, a ' researcher" ( isn't that like a consultant - 'those that can't teach consult..' ) stated that smaller firms that file SR&ED claims might not be having that hard a time in raising capital as one thinks. The author further maintained, and we totally disagree that many firms such as yours pay premiums for financing your business solely because outside investors and lenders can’t properly assess the quality of your R&D.

Again, incorrectly so in our opinion, the author maintained that small firms with track records can get ' favorable financing '. He must be dealing with different banks that we do on a daily basis, because clearly the SME sector in Canada is in fact challenged by growth financing. More so if you are a start up. 99.99% of the time we can safely assure our clients that the SRED tax credit is not directly financeable by the banks in Canada. And we stand by that assertion.

That same article maintained that the benefits of SRED credits are ' absorbed' by owners and employees of the firm. We have no idea of what he meant by that.

We will let Canadian business owner and others decide the true questions, whether the SRED credit provide a net benefit to Canadian business. What we can say with assurance is that your SR&ED credit is still financeable.

It is true though the SRED credit applications submitted by SR&ED consultants that you hire to prepare these claims will probably decrease in size and value because of recent changes to the program - one major one being the elimination of the capital assets used in the R&D work.

When all is said and done though our key point today is still the same. Your Canada SRED TAX CREDIT PROGRAM claim can still be financed. In fact, here's some great news, there have been many enhancements to the financing of SR&ED tax credits. Not only can you get a SRED Loan based on your filed claim, you are even eligible to borrow under next years claim .And in certain cases even a SRED credit line facility may be available to yourself .

SRED financing terms are still essentially the same these days. Claims are financed at 70% loan to value. No payments are made on the loan - so great cash inflow and even greater, no cash outflow !... and the remainder of the credit is advanced to your firm, less financing costs, when the claim is approved and paid by the government.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with financing your SRED (SR&ED) research tax credit when a SRED Loan makes sense.




7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN TAX CREDIT FINANCING EXPERTISE


Stan Prokop
- founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/canada-sred-tax-credit-program-financing-loan.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


















Saturday, January 26, 2013

A Commercial Business Loan In Canada . Business Loans ? Want To Get Rid Of Financing Worries ?






It’s Easy To Go Wrong With Business Financing . Here’s How Not To!


OVERVIEW – Information on the commercial business loan in Canada. Financing loans are available through bank and non bank sources for assets and cash flow.



A commercial business loan in Canada. The ability to successfully achieve the financing the Canadian business owner or manager needs clearly eliminates a lot of the worrying around your business success.



In the case of Canada we're in a lot better shape these days than we were a few years ago. Even start ups seem to be able to get financed again!

In Canada those loans are going to come from Canadian commercial banks or non regulated commercial and alternative lenders. When we say non regulated basically we are saying ' they are not banks!”...simple as that.

Its commercial business loans that solve both survival and growth needs. Those loans cover equipment, real estate, working capital, and even acquisitions. What's important is to start the whole process even a bit before you need the financing - searching for financing in crisis mode is highly NOT recommended. That pretty well goes for line of credit facilities, which in many cases are what the business owner/manager still associates with a ' loan '.

That does though bring us to the point that it's important to understand that there is a huge difference in either term loans as opposed to monetizing current assets for cash flow - it the ' business line of credit'. It's therefore important to think of your business loans in terms of strategically acquiring financing.

So what can in fact term business loans be used for in Canada? A variety of assets can be financed- up to and including the corporate jet.

(Well we can dream can't we?!) . But typical assets financed under loans include computers, telecom assets, software, machinery, equipment, and even leasehold improvements. A great tip we can offer clients is that leaseholds up to 350,000.00 can in fact be financed at great rates, terms and structures under the Govt. SBL Business loan. Check out this loan program if you have revenues under 5 Million dollars per annum, which is the revenue cap of companies allowed to apply under the program.

At the outset of a business loan have a strong sense of the term of the loan. That is going to play into the lenders cash flow analysis, and at the same time you want to be able to match the term of the loan with the useful economic life of the asset. That same tip goes for lease financing those assets also by the way.

Bridge loans are offered by alternative and other lenders as a way of acquiring assets you normally might not be able to finance through a bank. In some cases you might even be exploring a sale leaseback to generate cash flow out of assets already owned. When it makes sense, key word ' makes sense ‘! that's a great way to generate cash flow. Remember also that you will need to have a strong sense of market and liquidation value when it comes to financing pre-owned or used assets. That’s a critical part of the lender equation.

One final tip we always talk to clients about is the concept of ' matching'. Simply speaking it means ensuring that you financing long term assets with long term financing vehicles such as a business loan. To put it more simply, don't finance that corporate jet out of the line of credit

In Canada business loans come from banks, leasing companies and asset based lenders. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with you commercial business loan needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN COMMERCIAL BUSINESS LOAN EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/commercial-business-loan-loans-canada.html





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com





















Friday, January 25, 2013

IT Business Finance . Serious Solutions For Information Technology Financing In Canada






Where Is Your Firm On The Business Technology Curve ?





OVERVIEW – Information on IT business finance in Canada . Financing information technology solutions



IT Business Finance. We're talking about ‘information technology’ financing of course. There’s a lot of concern by Canadian business owners and financial managers around the fact that if companies want to grow and stay competitive that requires a lot of capital these days. The right type of financing helps business owners cope with a technology change nightmare . Experts state that the actual risk of acquiring and owning tech assets is simply the time factor – going from valuable to ‘ economically useless’ in zero to sixty!

Many Canadian businesses view their acquisition of technology almost as a battle, and we’re quite sure they are never really figure out if they are winning or losing!

So is the solution to give up? Hardly, in fact a lot of traditional straight forward financing solutions can handle a lot of the economics and issues around IT finance. Naturally that involves computer hardware, software, services, telecom assets, and on it goes.

One of the reasons Canadian business owners and their mgmt. teams wrestle with financing tech assets revolves around their belief that these assets both operate differently than other business assets, and in some cases, i.e. software, are even intangible .

What are some of the assets that are being financed these days when it comes to equipment leases and loans? It's a wide array, including PC's, cell phones, severs, POS systems, and even all the underbelly of the internet - the guts so to speak !.. I.e. routers, switches modems, etc. One more thing - even software licenses can be financed.

One of the big fallacies out there is that software can’t be financed. It can, simple as that. We're talking predominantly application software though, not the actual development.

Medium sized and larger corporations tend to have a plan or overall strategy when it comes to IT business finance. Finance terms typically range from 2-5 years, and companies opt for the traditional capital lease or in many cases a more sophisticated version of the tech lease, the 'operating lease.’

While many lease and finance companies in Canada are prepared to finance tech assets the Canadian borrower should in no way assume that it's always based on the strength quality and need of the assets themselves. What we mean by that is simply that your firm’s actual cash flow and overall financial condition still play a key role in the overall financing approval. In fact the case could be made that many banks, lessors, and other commercial lenders in Canada, while financing technology, still feel strongly that these assets still come with a high obsolescence factor.

Sophisticated lenders and captive finance firms in the tech industry place a high reliance on 'upgrades ', especially when in the case of a captive finance firm it’s their own product.

On balance we can say that if you don’t have experience in financing tech type assets now would be a good time to get some help! The ability for you to get solid info and advice on pricing, payment structures, lease and loan options, and end of term residual issues is key to your IT business finance success.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can help you navigate the tech finance jungle with valuable expertise.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN ' IT ' BUSINESS FINANCING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/it-business-finance-technology-financing.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com





















Thursday, January 24, 2013

Need Alternative Sources Of Finance ? Canadian Business Financing







Are You A Cheerleader

for Alternative Financing Solutions In Canada ?


OVERVIEW – Information on alternative sources of finance for Canadian business owners . How do these solutions by non regulated commercial finance firms differ from traditional bank financing in Canada ?




Alternative sources of finance in Canada. Ever wondered what they are? I guess we can tell you that they are ' alternative’, and not ' traditional ‘, but that's not really telling the whole story. And those alternative financing solutions, generally non-bank in nature can be either substitutions for traditional financing, and, here's a surprise, sometimes complimentary in nature! Let's explain.

An article in America's leading business magazine caught our eye recently... it was saying business owners should be cheering for alternative lending sources, because it was they took up the slack when the 2008 global meltdown happened . And that’s when of course business credit froze.

No surprise that Canadian businesses found themselves in the same boat, being in many cases unable to finance inventory, grow sales, etc.

In between traditional and alternative lending there are numerous courses of actions your firm can take to help alleviate ' the crunch '. They might include alternate pricing strategies, favorably negotiated supplier terms, new owner equity, etc. Great strategies, but sometimes just not enough!

While the majority of Canadian businesses think of ' the bank ' when it comes to pretty well any sort of financing the reality is that it's a brave new world out there. Things such as one on one lending relationships have a lot less emphasis these days, and many larger financial institutions are focusing on fees, not credit lines.


So what are some of those alternative sources of finance? They might include:

Factoring/ receivable finance

Equipment leasing

Non bank working capital facilities - (A/R and inventory and equipment)

Asset based credit lines - ' ABL Finance’

Securitization

Contract monetization

Tax Credit Financing

Supply Chain /PO Finance

Cash flow based term loans - Secured/unsecured


Let's provide you with a couple of examples of how alternative sources of finance either co exist or replace more rational financing in Canada. A clear example might be the tax credit. In Canada SRED (SR&ED) tax credits provide billions of dollars of capital to new, emerging, and established corporations.

In general we can very comfortably say that the tax credits, which many companies book as a ' receivable' when they have filed them, are not financeable by our Chartered banks. Some will argue that, but we stand behind our comment. So the ability to finance a tax credit claim outside of your existing credit facilities is valuable. So in that respect its one example of an alternate finance vehicle co existing with traditional finance. (By the way, film, TV and FX tax credits can be financed also in Canada)

In a large number of cases alternative financing solutions completely replace bank financing - mostly when ' the bank says no ‘, which they are sometimes wont to do! In that case receivable financing and asset based lines of credit fund companies anywhere from 100k to 100 Million dollars! To show you an extreme even if your firm is in CCAA bankruptcy proceedings it can quite efficiently be financed by alternative financing - example the ABL solution.

When the Canadian business owner and financial manager are looking for capital the process is actually quite clear. Ensure you have a clear use and need of funds , know what sources of financing ( traditional and non traditional ) are out there, and be prepared to accept financing solutions that are commensurate with your current situation if that involves weakness, issues,, need for creativity, etc.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with sources of alternative, or traditional! financing.


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN ALTERNATE FINANCING SOLUTIONS EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop
- founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/alternative-sources-of-finance-canada.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com



















Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Business Finance Solutions And Assistance? Don’t Come Up Short In The ABC’s Of Financing Assistance In Canada







Looking For Clear ABC’S of Business Financing In Canada?



OVERVIEW – Business finance solutions for the Canadian business owner and manager . Financing help and assistance gives your business a solid footing for growth and profits .




Business Finance Solutions. Quite frankly, we knew it all the time. At the risk of sounding like know it alls,

there it was, yesterday, in one of Canada's two leading newspapers.

What was it? It was a full page; yes a full page article entitled ' THE DEFECIT OF FINANCIAL ABC’S’. In it , the author , an executive with the Canadian Federation of Independent Business maintained , with real life examples, that Canadian business owners, certainly in the SME sector , are uncomfortable with ' financial lingo ' , referring to it as a foreign language to many!

Truth be told, we find Pirate Lingo the worst ! Johnny Depp films have made my wife a master of that genre



Another example pointed to in the article - only 2 out of ten could provide proper commentary on things such as balance sheets and cash flow management.

It's of course what we have been preaching ( like a broken record all along?)

on the importance of getting some help in financial solutions, whether that be knowledge assistance, or in our case, financing .

One of the final main points in the article was that the business owner recognizes that they need help and need to invest a bit of time in what is actually a critical factor to long term survival, let alone success.

Canadian business owners and financial managers need to determine how much capital they need both currently and in the intermediate to long term. At that point they can start the search, on their own, or with a trusted advisor, to access those sources of financing.

In Canada some basic financing solutions include the following:

Receivable financing facilities

Equipment leasing

Working Capital Term Loans

Asset Based Lines of Credit

Commercial Canadian chartered bank lines of credit

Franchise financing solutions

Government business loans

Tax Credit Monetization

Contract /PO/Supply chain financing

That's a lot of solutions, and we assure the beleaguered business owner that, unfortunately, each comes with its own lingo.

All of these solutions can apply to both start up and established businesses. Larger corporations of course have access to more esoteric and sophisticated business finance solutions - including securitization, Mergers, Capital pool, IPO's, Mezzanine financing, etc.

It's not only important to determine that you need capital or cash flow in a certain amount, its also important to understanding the timing and various structures of each of the many financial solutions that we've noted above .

Bottom line is that understanding cash flow needs, and solutions will power your business into the next stage of success. Oh, and by the way, some of these solutions might work for all your financing needs, and in certain cases it might be a ' mix and match'

Our bottom line today? Simply that seeking the financing assistance you need might not be the toughest challenge you think it is. Seek out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your cash flow and asset monetization needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/business-finance-solutions-assistance-financing.html








7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
















Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Leasing Company Search? Don’t Be The Lone Ranger When It comes To Lease Finance Solutions In Canada!






Canadian Equipment Financing – More Than You Think!



When searching for a lease finance solution from a leasing company in Canada it's tempting to go it alone. But you don't have to be the ' Lone Ranger '

when it comes to financing assets in Canada. There's an entire industry out there waiting to help your firm out with the right combination of solutions, rates, structures, etc. Let's explain.

We're the first to forgive Canadian business owners and financial managers for thinking that financing assets is tougher than they think. For the last couple of years it’s been pure ...

well let's diplomatically say ' a challenge ‘to arrange the financing they need for fixed assets.

The good news though is there's a new weather report - and it's sunny! with numerous tools, solutions, and yes leasing company advisors and partners to assist you.

Lease finance transactions are primarily done these days on fixed interest rates, and rates have never been lower. (Depending on credit quality of course!)

Another reason you don't have to go it alone in your financing decision is the fact that you almost won't believe the resources behind the current lease industry in Canada. They include independent private commercial firms, Canadian chartered bank owned / controlled companies, captive finance companies, and even firms that provide bridge loans that are similar in structure to leases, but are accounted for differently on your balance sheet.

Where the business owner/manger needs help these days is really in what type of lease structure most suits their firms needs. The reality is that those needs are driven by tax, accounting, cash flow and interest rate focus. In some cases you see the value of just using the asset and returning it to the lessor or mfr at the end of the term. In that case focus on an operating lease.

If you’re focused on owning the asset and strongly recognize its useful economic life than utilize the concept of lease to own, aka ' capital lease ‘.

If we had to pick one area that clients don't focus on enough (they usually just want to know ' the rate ') we would say it’s the whole area of terms and conditions. While it might be somewhat easy for the leasing company to disguise the interest rate you are paying, it’s a little tougher for them to term, payments, return obligations, and incidental fees, all of which can have a dramatic effect on the winning of losing of asset finance when it comes to your business.

Most businesses, whether it’s true or not feel they are unique in their needs. So how you address strategic, operational and financial issues around asset financing will ultimately determine if you're a lone range. or alternatively maximizing on the info and resources you need to make intelligent business financing decisions.

Want some very free assistance on how not to feel alone when it comes to lease finance in Canada? Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your asset acquisition needs.



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/leasing-company-lease-finance-canada.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com




Monday, January 21, 2013

Receivable Financing Powers Invoice Cash In Canada . Why You Should ( And Perhaps Shouldn’t) Use Factoring For Cash Flow






The Power of Cash Flow Finance Solutions






OVERVIEW – Information on receivable financing as a cash flow solution in Canada . How does invoice cash via factoring suit the need of the growing Canadian business and what do business owners need to know about the importance of working capital management and solutions .





Could you be underestimating the power of a receivable financing arrangement, one that generates invoice cash based on your sales and revenue growth?

Whatever they may wish to call it, ' factoring ', ' invoice discounting ', and ‘a/r finance’ etc the situation just might be that you have underestimated this powerful financing tool. Alternatively you might have been focusing on other solutions that either aren't available for your firm or don’t bring you the liquidity you need. Let's explain.

While a huge portion of Canadian business owners and financial manager’s focus on growth, assets, profits etc they are often forgetting the requirement of cash flow to power their company.

In many ways a solutions such as receivable finance gives you the strongest measure of current and future liquidity. Your creditors, lenders, etc are always watching you, whether you know it or not, in an effort to evaluate the risk of doing business with your firm.

When it comes to invoice cash facility it’s all about short term financing. You are simply monetizing assets, i.e. receivables! to create a cash resource for your firm. Your ability to immediately produce cash from revenue (that’s what factoring does by the way) allows you to avoid potential problems when it comes to lack of working capital and liquidity.

In the old days (unfortunately we remember them!)

companies regularly, even without the legal requirement to prepare a cash flow statement, calculated what was known as a ' source and use ' of funds. It would give the business a solid opinion on whether you were going to be in trouble based upon where all the cash was going.

Today all sorts of financing solutions are available to finance a firm. Some are short term and some are longer term in nature. A/R financing (factoring) is a short term solution to generate cash flow.

While accountants, commercial lenders, even banks will often use rations such as ' current ratio ', and other to determine your liquidity they don’t accurately measure your current challenges in cash flow finance. Factoring delivers on the only thing your business needs to survive and grow - Cash!

We've used a great example over the years of a department store in the U.S. that was called W.T. Grant. Right up to the end things looked great - a huge asset laden balance sheet, profits (on paper) and sales growth. The problem? Assets such as receivables and inventories were growing and weren’t being financed properly. In the end its demise and implosion surprised everyone, however history tells us that if we had focused on cash flow and asset monetization things would have been a lot different. That's a U.S. company example of course, but the Canadian business battlefield is laden with many firms that run out of cash flow. We love reading about those sort of things.




If you want to generate enough cash to immediately solve your working capital needs consider an A/R finance/factoring solution.

Are there times when an Invoice cash facility doesn't work ? We advise clients that have low gross margins or declining sales that receivable finance is not really the best solution as opposed to a concentrated turnaround strategy .
Our recommended facility is a confidential invoice cash facility, one in which you can bill and collect your own receivables.

If cash is critical to your business (hello??!!) seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with a receivable finance solution that makes sense for your firm.



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN CASH FLOW FINANCING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/receivables-financing-invoice-cash-factoring.html




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com