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.



Showing posts with label operating. Show all posts
Showing posts with label operating. Show all posts

Thursday, June 28, 2012

Do You Like Easy ? Leasing Company Solutions In Canada For Your Capital Lease Asset And Operating Needs



Who Doesn’t Want Easy When It Comes To Asset Finance !


Information on leasing in Canada . Why Canadian business chooses the benefits of capital and operating structures for lease assets in Canada .




Easy. Leasing. What business owner or financial manager doesnt like easy , and when it comes to capital or operating lease assets that's exactly what is happening these days.

It couldn’t be any more basic; it’s you, your lessor, and the use or ownership of an asset. The majority of Canadian businesses prefer what's known as a capital lease, aka ' lease to own ' , The industry sometimes makes this a bit confusing as other terms for this transaction include ' financial lease ' , ' full payout lease' and ' finance lease '.

The bottom line, in that type of transaction you're simply signifying your choice of taking ownership at the end of the leasing term, of the asset or assets in question.

Why then do thousands of businesses in Canada, in fact almost 80%, so it would appear we're probably in the millions, choose the lease of assets as their Canadian business financing mechanism of choice .?

When you think of it, it really comes down to 4 basic reasons. First of all there is the necessity to acquire assets to run their business that they might otherwise not be able to purchase outright. Or perhaps they don't qualify for a bank term loan,

The other reason is termed ' risk shifting ' as your lessor shares the risk of ownership during the lease term.

Thirdly we have tax and accounting benefits that accrue to the Canadian business owner.

The fourth reason. IT'S EASY!!!! ... and convenient.

Almost all asset classes can be financed in Canada , but a great example of 'Easy 'when it comes to financing your business assets is computers , software and tech assets in general.

What business owner today wouldn’t be reluctant to lay out huge sums of cash when it comes to both cost as well as the constantly changing technologies of the tech world?

In fact that very subject, technology asset finance is why thousands of firms opt for the other type of lease available in Canada. That’s the ' OPERATING LEASE ‘and it’s simply a lease that can be renewed, extended, or upgraded during the lease term. That ability to make lower lease payments for only using and then returning the asset has a lot of appeal to chief information office in medium size or larger corporations.


Clearly there is an element of ' pride of ownership ' when it comes to fixed assets for your company. But it’s a changing world, and if you can achieve use and profits of the asset in an economical fashion its clear that leasing is probably for you.

Various techniques can be used when it comes to figuring out the ' lease vs. buy ' conundrum .Just make sure you use an apples to apples comparison tool, and that you understand your cost of capital and the real interest rate you are being offered.

So, ‘EASY’ when it comes to lease assets. You bet. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your capital and operating leasing needs.



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN LEASING AND 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 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/leasing_lease_assets_capital_operating.html





Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Scientifically Proven ? An Asset Lease Whether Operating Or Capital Works For Financial Bridging of Canadian Business Financing




This Day in Canadian Business History - April 4 :

Canada agrees to acquire the Canadian section of the Alaska Highway, including telephone systems, buildings and other assets, for $108 million (1,221 miles at $88,000 a mile); 2,450-kilometre highway originally cost US$140 million to build, as a wartime supply route in case of Japanese invasion of North America.

Our thoughts ?
' What a Deal from a financial perspective! ' Ultimately of course there was a supply route invasion of Canada but it consisted mainly of LCD screens .... Stan Prokop



Conducting Lease Transactions in Canada – Bridging the Asset Gap



Information on asset lease financing in Canada . Capital and operating financial solutions provide the bridging you need for short term and long term fixed asset finance needs .




Scientifically proven? It's defined as a ' body of techniques’ for acquiring new knowledge. Unless we're missing something an asset lease is a trusted financial solution, bridging your operating capital needs to your long term financing solutions.

Whether it’s an operating lease versus a capital lease your company still benefits from the appropriate combination of use and to a certain degree, ownership.

So why does a lease finance solution allow you to reduce the consumption of capital. Simply speaking you can direct funds required to buy assets towards more important things, such as growing your business, expanding your products and services, etc.

When you choose between an operating lease ( using ) versus a capital lease ( owning ) it comes down to two basic criteria for final approval - the value and quality of the asset , as well as of course your firm's general credit worthiness.

The great news for Canadian business owners and financial managers is that leasing companies and solutions abound! They are provided by bank subsidiaries, independent commercial finance firms, and captive finance organizations of larger manufacturers. (In general you can’t beat vendor/captive financing for rates, terms and structures - simply because the finance arm is incented to approve and finance your asset based on the sales focus of the mfr itself).

Depending on what industry you are in you might well find that certain lease firms and solutions are more appropriate than others. Technology, computer, software, and telecom type assets lend themselves perfectly to be financed via firms with that special tech experience. More often than not you will, or in fact should, consider an operating lease for these types of assets.

What then are the key questions or issues that you should address when considering an asset lease, or utilizing this financing tool as a bridging solution... for example a sale leaseback ?

The key considerations are your expected term under which you believe you will use the asset. (3 and 5 year terms are most typical - however 2-7 year terms are available depending on asset type).

Capital or operating leases work best when they are part of an overall strategy. Your company will derive maximum benefits when you consider several issues around your asset or bridging needs - they include tax implications, how you will account for your lease, your future needs for the type of equipment you are acquiring, etc.

The Sale leaseback scenario is a great bridging strategy for financial solutions. It takes your current investment in assets and monetizes them, giving you critically needed capital.

Can leasing ever be a poor choice? Perhaps, but certainly not often. The weight of evidence, scientific or otherwise! suggests that this financing tool gives you maximum leverage in asset lease finance. If you're looking for more information and expert advice on lease concepts speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor.







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/asset_lease_operating_capital_financial_bridging.html







Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Making Sound Choices With Your Leasing Finance Company? Canadian Operating And Capital Lease Solutions





Cover Your Assets With The Right Lease Finance Strategy!


Information on choosing the right leasing finance company for your capital and operating lease solutions . Know Your Common Types of Choices!





The right leasing finance company. Sounds like a simple choice, right? But the reality is that when it comes to selecting the right capital and operating lease solutions for your firm can you really say you feel 100% prepared.

Abe Maslow was a famous U.S. professor, widely published and studied. He once wrote ' when the only tool you have is a hammer every problem resembles a nail'! No pun intended, but talk about hitting it on the head ! Most Canadian business owners and financial managers know they need a finance solution ; they know lease finance works, but quite often are very unclear on some basic selection criteria you need to have under your business belt when it comes to signing on the dotted line.

There are several major categories of leases and one, probably not all, is the right one for any particular equipment financing you enters into. When you win at the asset finance game you no doubt have one step on your competition. So it’s a question of knowing which benefits might accrue most logically to your firm.

Unlike the U.S. where things are a bit more complex, the leasing finance company in Canada has two major products, the lease to own solution, aka ' capital ', and the lease to use option, aka ' operating '. The operating lease is also often referred to as a fair market value lease or ‘true lease' , and we hasten to add the capital lease is also known as a finance lease .

Each of these two products exists to serve some basic needs of your company. A key point that is often overlooked by the lessee is the fact that either of these two leases can in effect be ' bundled ' to include other of your supplier’s deliverables, including shipping, installation, warranty, maintenance, etc.

Although an operating lease could in fact include a bundled component more logically that is undertaken for clients who wish the lease to use, or capital lease option. In an operating lease these items would be fully priced out, and would probably increase the total ' all in ' rate you are paying.

The world of operating leases is diminishing a bit with the inception of new standardized accounting rules that are coming into effect on a global basis. Although many of the benefits of leasing in general come together in both capital and operating leases the whole operating lease scenario becomes a bit more of an accounting exercise .

In an operating lease there is no interest per se - that might seem confusing to many. But the lease is structured as a payment only scenario, with your choices, or obligations being the ability to return, upgrde, or purchase at the end of term fair market value.

You will not always see, or get clear explanations from a leasing finance company on the type of lease, capital or operating, that you are entering into .That because the Canadian marketplace has lessors with either small, mid, or large ticket focuses. It's up to you to know who is offering what, what they are calling it, and if things are as they appear and promised.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian equipment financing advisor who can assist you in separating the promise and the deliverable for your firms benefit.








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/leasing_finance_company_lease_operating_capital.html

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Which Of The 3 Equipment Lease Rates Would You Choose ? Canadian Capital & Operating Lease Payments Explained!







Canadian Equipment Lease Rates – the truth!


Information on equipment lease rates in Canada . How are lease payments calculated on both capital and operating lease scenarios . Which type of transaction has the best payment structure for your firm?




OK. Quick test. Here we go. Let’s test your knowledge about equipment lease rates, payments... as they appear to be, and how those payments look in capital and operating leases in Canada.

Let’s assume you have a $ 150,000 transaction - you are looking for a 4 year lease term, and you are being offered three lease payment choices. Those choices are:

$3637.00
$3108.00
$3373.00


So, now the test. Are you ready. Which payment do you choose? The answer. All three transactions are essentially the same! Its just that the type of lease you choose and how Canadian equipment lease finance companies show you that payment is really where you can save, ( or by the way , lose) thousands of dollars . Let’s explain.



First of all, threes a huge difference in the types of leases being offered to Canadian business owners and financial managers in Canada. We're actually quite lucky because the U.S. leasing industry is populated by all sorts of leases, the names even make our eyes roll, and we think we're somewhat of an expert. They include Trac leases, synthetic lease, non leveraged lease, etc.

But, we're Canadians, eh?! So we keep it simple, and for the most part you only have to choose between two types of leases in Canada, capital and operating. Its the equipment lease finance industry in Canada that sometimes tries to make even these two scenarios complicated - its our job to keep clients decisions simple, and, oh yes, understandable !

Once you have a handle on the two types of leases, and some of the ' games ' albeit legitimate that lessor tend to play you should consider yourself fully armed with respect to getting leasing payment and equipment lease rates for those two basic scenarios ; capital, which is ' lease to own', and operating, which we call ' lease to use'!

When you enter into a capital lease you have made the decision to own an asset at the end of a typically longer lease term. In Canada that is anywhere from 2-7 years, although the most typical lease terms are three years and 5 years.

Operating leases on the other hand tend to be 2-3 year terms, and the reason why is that some of the technical and accounting calculations needed to make an equipment finance lease work from an operating perspective require the calculations to be on a shorter term. But that’s ok, because its assets in an operating lease that tend to be upgraded, returned, remarketed by you or the lessor, etc.

We encourage clients to think of their lease financing needs in terms of both financial reasons and operating policy reasons. All sorts of issues come to mind when you are leasing assets in Canada, not the least of which is getting approved! Other issues such as budgets, payment flexibility also come to mind.

Oh, and back to our opening question, which would you choose again. The first calculation is a standard lease with no obligation at the end of the 48mo term. The 2nd transaction is a slick trick, and actually useful financial strategy, which is providing you with a purchase option at end of term. You can pay or extend typically. And the final is an operating lease, same asset and term, but with a 15% residual investment by the lessor.

A bottom line? As always, speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can help you wade thru the myriad of equipment lease rates and structure in a common sense manner that benefits your company.





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/equipment_lease_rates_capital_operating_payments.html

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Practical and Surprising Methods for Working Capital And Cash Flow Financing For Operating Funds For Canadian Business Owners




Canadian Business Cash Flow Alternatives


Information on working capital and cash flow solutions for operating funds for Canadian business owners and financial managers.



It should be no secret that SME firms that make up the majority of the Canadian economy face the same challenges as some of our larger corporations. Their ability to manage and successfully solve working capital and operating cash flow issues for business probably seems more daunting due to perceived lack of options and the resources to put those solutions in place.

Let’s examine how to address some of those challenges, and where help might lie.

The flow of funds into and out of your business ultimately determines the cash flow needs. That need is driven out of the requirement for you to run your business, pay your bills, produce products and services, and then wait... and hope?! .. to get paid on time.

One of the dangers of cash flow management and use is that it is tempting to use your working capital for fixed asset purchases. That’s not recommended of course, and it’s more viable to look at other methods of asset finance such as equipment finance or term loans for assets required to run your business. In many cases existing assets can also be refinanced for working capital.

The logical solution for additional cash flow needs is of course a bank line of credit, which you can successfully negotiate if your financial statements and personal finances support that type of facility. In higher growth situations more alternative methods of capital rising can be considered - they include purchase order financing, inventory only finance facilities, or the monetization of your tax credits. These are clear options when banks or other lenders require you to put in additional funds into your firm that may not be available from your personal resources. We definitely are always urging clients to try and separate their personal finances from their business assets as that just seems common sense to us... isnt it one of the reasons incorporation exists in the first place?

We encourage business owners and financial mangers to obtain asset financing for their business. As noted, this can come from the alternative sources we mentioned, which also might include receivable financing outside the bank, a true asset based lending facility that monetizes A/R, inventory and equipment into a revolving line of credit, etc. These sort of facilities work perfectly if your firm can’t meet the stringent requirements of traditional cash flow covenants. Banks and institutional cash flow lenders thoroughly investigate your firm’s ability to make payments via ratios and covenants that identify cash flow coverage and debt to equity ratios. If you can meet them... great... if you can’t... consider our alternatives .

Always focus on breaking down short term and long term needs. Short term really focuses solely around your A/R and inventory build up while long term debt is repaid via regular term payments over a long period of time

Our asset based line of credit solution that we referred to above is the optimal solution for asset based working capital and cash flow finance. Receivables are finance dup to 90% of your total A/R, and if your inventory can be fairly easily solid it can also be margined.

If your company is a bit larger towards the high end of the SME sector there are some great hybrid solutions such as mezzanine and subordinated debt solutions. You pay a higher rate for this type of financing, typically in the teens, from a rate point of view, but it is ultimately cheaper than selling permanent equity, particularly if you are bullish on your long term prospects.

Oh, and by the way, the most common sense solution to working capital and cash flow is simply prudent management of those current assets. Keep your profits in your firm, negotiate better terms with suppliers, and strive on a daily basis to reduce A/R and inventory levels. You've just become the savior of your own firm!

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on operating working capital and cash flow solutions for your business - there are more alternatives than you might be aware of!




ABOUT THE AUTHOR - STAN PROKOP

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING !



http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/working_capital_cash_flow_operating_business.html