Looking For A Solution To Business Cash Flow Problems ? Solved !

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Business Cash Flow & Working Capital Solutions

Business cash flow problems are encountered at numerous stages of growth in a company's existence . The good news that numerous solutions, both ' traditional ' and ' alternative' are available to fix the problem and set your company back on the right course.

One solution to the working capital conundrum is of course to stop growing ! That's a tough one for any business owner,financial mgr, or entrepreneur to accept . If they did that though they would not need to maintain a higher level of inventory, investment in accounts receivable, or to purchase new equipment/software , etc. It then makes sense that financing solutions around those asset categories we must mentioned might just be the answer you're looking for, right?


In some cases firms might find themselves in a crisis or turnaround situation - it is very difficult to grow and expand your company when you're in the throes of daily financial type issues that deter owners and mgmt from moving forward with growth plans. Quite often these situations are accompanied by pressure from secured lenders , banks, suppliers, etc. Those situations are never comfortable.

Many firms that are growing to quickly will often find that costs and other finance issues are being masked or hidden due to the apparent success of sales. But higher sales can't hide financial flaws forever.

Obviously those sales also create the need for more working capital and the required investments in those current assets on the balance sheet - a/r , inventory, etc. As we said stopping the growth frees up cash flow and some of those creditor issues. Efficiencies around collecting your a/r faster, managing better inventory turns , etc always create more cash flow . So it shouldn't always be about volume - that old adage ' We'll make it up on volume ' somehow seems to never work!

In some cases raising prices to increase cash flow might be considered , but that's rarely the focus of many business owners.


We think you can see the point, in that the optimal solution is to ensure your cash flow / working capital availability must be measured and managed around sales growth


Many businesses in Canada, (perhaps not tech type business) would be very happy with a ten percent year over year sales growth. Let's say you were focused on growing at 25% this year, a huge increase by any measure. However, profits and cash flow and working capital don't move lock step with those sales.

What then are the actual financing solutions to those changes in your current assets in the sales growth strategy. Traditional solutions such as bank financing for business lines of credit will work - Firms that cannot access any or all the bank credit they need should consider alternative financing solutions such as asset based business credit lines. These 2 types of business credit facilities allow you to better finance and manage extending credit to your clients.

No one solution is applicable to every company in every industry - so the ability to access financing assistance from an experienced 3rd party is key .

Solutions For Cash Flow Problems In Canada:

ASSET BASED LENDING

RECEIVABLE FINANCING/FACTORING

WORKING CAPITAL TERM LOANS

SHORT TERM WORKING CAPITAL LINES

PURCHASE ORDER FINANCING

INVENTORY FINANCE

TAX CREDIT FUNDING ( SR&ED LOANS )



Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with a track record of business finance success who can assist you in the need for proper business working capital and cash flow solutions that match your company needs.


7 Park Avenue Financial :
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.

Stan Prokop

Business Working Capital Options In Canada : Are You There Yet On Your Finance Options

Why It’s Good To Be Right About Working Capital



OVERVIEW – Information on the importance of business working capital for Canadian businesses. It’s all about timing on finance options for cash flow solutions that make sense

The business working capital search often has owners/financial managers/entrepreneurs with that ' are we there yet?)

feeling as they struggle for finance options for their companies. That's of course because that journey is often endless as your business grows / experienced challenges. The importance of being ' right' in this area can't be over emphasized. Let's dig in.

Working capital is dependent on sales and assets, as you generate revenues which become receivables you’re in a better position to reduce your short term obligations such as payables and loan and operating commitments. The big ' IF ' is if you are turning those assets over and generating quality receivables. It all about how ' efficient' your business is, and that's what of interest to suppliers, lenders, or potential investors.

Problems often arise when sales fluctuate dramatically, leaving your company in a negative working capital position. The worst part of sales fluctuation is of course when sales go down dramatically- at this point not even better collections can reverse the tide. It's at these times that your ability as an owner/financial manager is challenged to the hilt.

There are some ways to address working capital challenges in the absence of a sales slump. One of these is to sell off inventories if that asset class is a part of your business - one other solution is to consider a SALE LEASEBACK of existing assets. Often simply trying to forecast your short term needs by careful analysis of your balance sheet accounts will also avoid cash crunches.

It's important to point out that every industry has different working capital needs and some finance options will work for some but not all. Companies dependent on cash sales or fast inventory turns can often escape working capital drama. Even more challenging is the steep hill ' start up ' businesses face as they try to be taken seriously by banks and commercial lenders. The ' short list ' of working capital solutions includes:

Bank Credit Facilities

A/R financing from commercial finance companies

Inventory finance - suited for retailers or as a combination of A/R and inventory business revolving credit facilities

Working Capital Term Loans

Asset based non bank revolving credit facilities

PO Financing

Lease financing - preserves cash flow and credit lines as you match long term assets with minimal cash outlay

Sales/Royalty finance

In accessing the right working capital finance options for your business it's critical to be ' educated' about your firms overall financial position. Consider also seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in ensuring you're ' right ' about the perfect finance options for your business.






7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN BUSINESS WORKING CAPITAL FINANCE EXPERTISE



7 Park Avenue Financial

South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.






Stan Prokop

A Cash Flow Rescue Plan : Some Higher Education In Business Working Capital Solutions

Getting Comfortable With Cash Flow And Working Capital Solutions

Information on improving cash flow for Canadian business owners and financial managers. Business working capital solutions and management are at the heart of business success




Improving cash flow and accessing business working capital solutions is pretty well always a situation of the business owner /financial manager getting comfortable with the right information and solution. There's nothing like a bit of ' higher education’...

so let's dig in.










The reality of the situation is that it’s a combination of managing your balance sheet assets, granting credit to clients in the right manner, and accessing cash flow solutions that match your first overall credit quality. In many cases we see in talking to clients they are often focused more on sales generation (which is important) but at the expense of working capital management.

But are these types of financial solutions difficult to obtain. Truth be told they are if your firm doesnt satisfy what we call traditional criteria by Canadian chartered banks and other ' mainstream' lenders. But if you're in a bit of a credit crunch and don't satisfy the criteria of solid balance sheets, profits, and satisfactory operating ratios it's an upward struggle.

If your firm doesn’t have ' bank support ' it’s a case of exploring alternative solutions that are in fact numerous. They include:

Receivable Financing
Inventory Finance
Supply Chain/PO financing
Tax Credit Monetization
Business lines of credit that are non bank in nature
Govt SBL busines loans

In our clients minds, unfortunately, it's almost always only about ' the rate ' when it comes to accessing alternate solutions. While ultimately you have to be able to support any form of external financing we maintain that the way you manage external financing, as well as how you use it is in fact a 'fresh way' to look at things .

Take A/R financing for instance. Our own preferred and recommended solution is Confidential Receivable Financing. While coming at a higher cost than bank lines it provides unlimited access to working capital, as well the ability to minimize costs by prudent day to day management of your accounts. Don't forget also that no debt is added to the balance sheet, and new found cash flow can help you sustain better supplier relationships and maximizing better pricing on goods and services you order.

As we have said it’s important to take a ' holistic ' approach cash flow management. That includes:

Monitoring customer credit granting
Accelerating cash inflow via better collections
Taking supplier discounts whenever you can
Ensuring you have a good handle on future cash flow needs

Remember also that while any non traditional financing will always cost more it replaces the need to consider outside equity which is much more expensive.

Your ability to know how much cash you need in the future will always be a key factor in business success. Seek out and speak to a
trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you with your financing needs.





Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Cash Flow Solution Expertise







Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

CONTACT:

7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '

Stan Prokop

Remove Business Working Capital Action Paralysis : Understanding Commercial Financing Options

You Are Looking For A Simpler Plan For Business Financing Solutions

Information on business working capital solutions in Canada. The right commercial financing company removes the ‘ capital’ obstacle




Business working capital often creates somewhat of a state of ' paralysis' for many business owners. They are almost ' caught in the crosshairs'

when it comes to understanding their commercial financing options and demystifying the complexity around the need for those solutions. Is there a simpler way? Let's dig in.

Top experts tell us that when it comes to the SME Commercial sector of business in Canada owners and managers often don't realize the impact of a lack of working capital and cash flow until it's a bit too late sometimes.

In some cases, quite remarkably, they are not even aware of all of the traditional and alternative options they have available to them. They also are often not aware of both government and commercial financing programs that could potentially provide them with the funding options they need.

It is of course not surprising that almost half of business owners or their financial managers tend to only think only of their existing ' bank ' as the sole source of their financing solutions. Financial advice and solutions arising out of that advice also often comes from their accountants , searching the internet for ' Canadian business Financing ', and finally engaging a hopefully trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success in business working capital solutions .

We recently read a study that indicated that over 60% of business owners stated that at certain times of the year they always need extra funding. That of course could come from seasonality in their business, ' bulge' situations that arise out of large contracts or orders, etc.

That type of short term cash crisis always demands funds and it’s often a case of simply surviving, let alone focusing on long term growth of the business.

Fortunately, or unfortunately? many business owners/managers often rely on their suppliers and vendors as a source of cash - they of course do that by maximizing their supplier credit facilities and then delaying payments as long as they can.

Technically speaking increasing payables in fact does enhance cash flow from operations, but it is often at the risk of the key relationships you need from major suppliers and vendors.

It (almost) goes without saying that your ability to play business working capital financing is really what needs to be done. In the case of cash flow fixed term debt is rarely the solution, so the business owner should consider the following solutions:

Receivable Financing
Inventory Finance
Purchase Order/ Supply Chain financing
Chartered bank business credit lines
Non bank asset based credit facilities (‘ABL’)
Tax credit monetization

Any one or a combination of the above solutions enhances cash flow especially when you are in fact growing your business.

Understanding the impact of commercial financing solutions is key to business working capital. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in unraveling the paralysis that often comes from understanding your working capital options.





Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded in 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Commercial Financing And Working Capital Option Expertise






Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

CONTACT:

7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

Stan Prokop

Who’s The Boss? Are Cash Flow Financing Challenges Managing You? Business Working Capital Management

Cash Flow – Canadian Business Style!

Information on cash flow financing in Canada . How business owners can achieve business working capital success via proper solutions and management


Valid question, right? When it comes to your business working capital and cash flow financing who's running the show, you, or are those two culprits seemingly running your company?

We're remind of one of Yogi Berra's (many) great lines - ' when you come to a fork in the road, take it ‘! That's probably where you are now in many cases. Determining who will win the ongoing cash flow battle for supremacy.

The reality is that you can probably be forgiven for feeling ' Who's the boss ' as statistics show that 82% of business owner don't feel in control or comfortable about their cash flows. So how in fact do you regain that feeling of control that every business owner treasures.

A good start is to know what you're talking about. We've repeatedly said that cash flow is such an over used and misunderstood concept or term. We can get really technical (net income plus deprecation plus or minus changes in working capital components) but unless we're at an accounting trade show/convention that's not really what we're looking for here!

To make things more complex we can make a case that your ' cash flow ' has to do with historical, present, and future needs, making it even tougher to get a handle on.


There are some great tools and also solutions to manage your cash flow financing needs. And again, we're talking about real cash, not income statement profits. That frankly though is a good place to make a very important comment - if your cash flow statement ( it's component # 3 of every financial statement ) differs significantly from your income statement over time you probably will never really regain cash flow control/supremacy.

So lets examine some solid ways to make sure you feel good about that ' WHO'S THE BOSS' question we posed earlier.

First of all, keep your financials up to date and understand them. A small handful of key ratios or relationships you can easily, and we mean very easily monitor over time will allow you to feel ' in control ‘. Simple things like receivable days turnover, inventory turns, sales to fixed assets, etc.

It sure doesn’t hurt to do some methodical cash flow planning. Also, take a look at your overall capital structure from a viewpoint of debt and equity. This allows you to properly take advantage of market growth opportunities, even an acquisition perhaps.

We know we sound like a broken record sometimes, but understand your operating cycle; it’s the amount of time it takes for a dollar to flow thru your company. Match a financing solution to that selling cycle.

Hottest tip today on cash flow generation? It's don't pay anyone! But seriously, managing your payables and disbursements is critical, but we're the first to recognize the importance of supplier relationships. If you have a sales force you might consider paying them commissions when sales are paid, not made. Talk about incenting the collection focus!

If your assets aren’t turning over quickly focus on that. You can also monetize your current assets via bank lines, asset based lines of credit, working capital lines, receivable financing, inventory financing, and supply chain finance.

Who's the Boss when it comes to cash flow? Hopefully you. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on cash flow financing and business working capital analytics and solutions.

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/cash_flow_financing_business_working_capital.html

Cash Flow Problems Hampering Growth? Survival? Canadian Business Working Capital Solutions. Right Here Right Now!

Solutions To Your Biggest Financial Dilemmas


Information on business working capital solutions for Canadian firms who face cash flow problems arising from growth . Measuring the problem and addressing the solution !






When Canadian business owners and financial managers encounter cash flow problems several business working capital solutions are available.

One of them is very ' not ' obvious which is to stop growing. That's a tough one for the entrepreneur to swallow of course. but it's true. Stopping growth means that additional funds are not needed to maintain higher level of inventories, receivables, or the need to invest in new equipment.

When you are in a turnaround or crisis type situation is when it's of course the most difficult time to grow and expand your business. That's simply because pressure from secured lenders and unsecured trade creditors is at its height. And that's never comfortable.

Today it might seem like we are talking about the not so obvious, so another key point that we will offer up is simply the fact that when you're focused on only growth there is a lot of room sometimes to hide cost or other issues that might be being mismanaged in your company.

Again, tough to swallow, but when you increase sales, as we said, you increase the need for working capital. If you stopped growing and simply ran your business efficiently you will probably find you can free up cash flow and cease the pressures with your lenders and suppliers.

That's also the best time, again as difficult as it may seem, to focus on profitable business as opposed to ' volume ' type business. We can't help but be reminded about the old saying ' we'll make it up on the volume '. Our point, you never do!

So instead of sometimes only trying to focus on growth and revenue Canadian business might well do better to address raising prices, and, heaven forbid, reducing sales! This frees up your current assets, which is at the core of your cash flow problems, as they represent your business working capital.

When you think of it, we're actually saying you should be setting up a comparison model between your cash flow and your sales growth.

Many businesses in Canada, (perhaps not tech type business) would be very happy with a ten percent year over year sales growth. Let's say you were focused on growing at 25% this year, a huge increase by any measure. However, profits and cash flow and working capital don't move lock step with those sales.

While profits on paper might show up nicely it’s the changes in your current assets you should be focusing on. Here is where you want to ensure that A/R is also rising at the same rate. This is not the time to be offering extended trade credit to your clients.

So, what have we focused on ?Just the basics, which are that in today’s case management and controlling growth have a huge effect on business working capital .

A perfect world just may exist when you're growing sales and addressing profit and cash flow issues at the same time.

Solutions for cash flow problems in Canada include asset based lending, receivable financing, mezzanine debt, purchase order/contract financing, and even monetization of your tax credits.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in the need for proper business working capital.





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.