Where Will You End Up Without Canadian Film / Movie Tax Credits & Financing?

‘The Movie and Film Business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side."

The above quote has been attributed to quite famous U.S. journalist Hunter Thomson... it's in dispute apparently whether he made these comments on the music industry or film. Quite frankly though, we have made our point.

We recently saw a movie called "Made in Romania starring Jennifer Tilley ". The film has classic elements of a film tax credit scam gone awry in the worst way, from co production to poor planning, etc.

So that’s our trivia for today, what we really wanted to address was that Canadian Film and Movie tax credits, and their unique financeable features can save you from ending up somewhere along the lines of our analogies above .

Canada has made it very clear that it supports the film, TV, and emerging and fast growing digital animation industry by providing a solid finance tax credit mechanism that works. And you're already familiar with the strength and reputation of Canada’s government and banking policies, which are world renowned.

If you have a Canadian controlled private company (most producers of course set up a special purpose legal entity for each of their productions) you are eligible for tax credits, and have the further ability to monetize those tax credits for cash flow and working capital purposes. We would point out that it also includes co productions and various treaty arrangements throughout the world. (We’ll have to check if that includes Romania!)

So what do these film and movie tax credits include. Essentially when we're talking film and Television were referencing labour expenses ,production costs, and some really unique what we will call ' regional ' credits , which might actually drive where you choose to shoot principal photography, scene locations, etc .

Let’s provide a quick example, because we receive many calls from U.S. producers always quizzing us on some of the nuances of the system.
Let us assume you have chosen British Columbia as a location. The majority of the industry is driven to Vancouver of course, a major metro centre. But by filming outside Vancouver and additional 6% of tax credit becomes available. We suspect it’s because of the ability of your production to drive employment and spending in non city areas... but who are we to judge? Ours it to utilize!

The reality is that this is Canadian financing of utilization of tax credits requires some expert help, so your ability to align yourself with a Canadian film tax credit financing expert is valuable from a viewpoint of maximizing your claim .

How the tides have turned, because the majority of interactive media and film and TV principals in the industry are currently quite bullish according to polls conducted by one of the major accounting firms that specializes in this area. The ability to reach your audience through a variety of media increases everyday.



Financing of your claims can be a tremendous boost to your overall production budget from a cash flow perspective. You can finance your claims on completion, or utilize accrual type financing, providing cash flow during your spend.

Want to avoid a huge part of film, TV, and digital media budget financing stress. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian film tax credit financing advisor. Maximize your credits, and by the way, here’s one more great quote about your industry. Let Canadian film and movie tax credits get you to the final destination -->



“Shooting a film is like taking a stagecoach ride in the old west. At first, you look forward to a nice trip. Later, you just hope to reach your destination.”
- Francois Truffaut



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Hard To Believe – Lease Finance Tips for Operational Financing of Assets – A Financial Win!

Isn't it all really about growing your business? That is why lease finance, utilized properly becomes a solid competitive strategy for your Canadian business financing needs.

Whether it’s operating leases (some owners call them ' operational ‘) or lease to own capital leases your ability to match the financial solution to your asset acquisition needs can create a viable option to complete your financial strategy.

But solid insights into how Canadian equipment and lease finance works sure can help, as the market is fragmented and has numerous players , all promising you different things, and all trying to fit you into their ' box ' - which you might find won't fit once you're inside!

A frequent term utilized in lease financing is ' lifecycle '. Let's look at that in a number of ways. In its most common use it refers to two things - matching the financing you utilize to your useful asset life, and at the same time choosing the type of lease that works best for that particular asset, and your balance sheet.

Utilizing the right type of lease will end us satisfying owners of the firm, and its creditors, relative to new debt being acquired. We talked about those ' operational ' leases, more commonly called off balance sheet operating leases. They have the ability to eliminate additional debt on the balance sheet ( trust us its still there, just not on the balance sheet !) as well as keep your ratios intact if you're operating within bank guidelines around debt to equity, cash flow, etc.

Those operating leases tend to work really well when you are in a technological environment, a good example being computing and telecom.

Quick example - let's say you are doing a major computer upgrade and total cost of all hardware and software is $1,000,000.00. Getting back to our lifecycle comment you typically would finance this over 3 years (given the fast changes in technology). A capital lease at today’s competitive rates would typically generate a monthly payment obligation of approx $30,000.00 - and at the end of the lease term your firm is the ‘proud owner ' of 1 Million dollars of computer hardware and related items. We'll come back to the word 'proud '.

However, that same transaction, utilizing a lease financing operating (operational) strategy would yield a payment obligation of only $24,000.00.
And oh yes, would you really feel that 'proud' about owning a 3 year old computer system - we think not, that’s why that same operating lease can provide you with lifecycle management flexibility, allowing you to return, extend, upgrade, or purchase if you choose . It’s a right though, not an obligation, and that’s important.

All clients, whether we like it or not, focus on rates. Of course they are important, but we caution you that you can have the best rate and monthly payment in town and pay dearly for being in the wrong type of lease financing strategy with the wrong options available to your firm.

And do you want to know the true reality of ' rates ‘. It’s that you get to pick you own. Surprised? You shouldn’t be, because in effect your own credit quality actually drives your final rate - as it’s a competitive world out there. We can usually tell within minutes what a competitive rate band you might find yourself if, if you'll share some key financial disclosure on your firm.

Finally, industry knowledge. Is there a way you can navigate Canadian equipment financing waters successfully, in a manner that makes sense from a time and cost perspective. There are hundreds of lease finance firms, all have different criteria, some do large complex deals, some only small ticket deals and all have varying levels of financial disclosure required by your firm.

The solution? Seek a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who is independent and focuses on financing the type of transaction you need at rates, terms, and structures that you deserve. Expertise and service that will be guaranteed.




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/lease_finance_financial_financing_operational.html

At Last ! Solid Info On Canadian Accounts Receivables Loans & Financing – A Business Credit Alternative

Nothing is more important to a Canadian business owner or financial manager than being well informed - in business living in the past generally leads to failure in today’s competitive environment

So when it comes to business financing and credit knowing the advantages and costs of accounts receivables loans becomes valuable.

Many Canadian businesses still feel they are somewhat of a captive prisoner in the difficult business credit environment. While interests are low in Canada and the stock markets seem to be doing fairly ok its clear that access to business credit and financing is still very difficult.

It’s kind of like a slow thawing out, with the freezer of course being Canadian chartered banks. Many surveys suggest that a good percentage of Canadian business that applies for working capital and cash flow facilities do not get all of the financing they need, if in fact they are approved at all.

This forces you, the business owner or manager, to take a second look at what is available out there to keep your operating capital adequate. We're definitely not putting blame on the banks (we love Canadian banks) but could there be a better way for small and medium sized businesses to access credit...well we think so .

Isn’t the saying that ' necessity is the mother of invention '? In our case independent finance firms, both U.S. owned and Canadian have stepped up to the bar, providing accounts receivable loans for your financing needs. We hasten to point out that the word ' loan ' is a misnomer here... our clients use the term also but we caution them that the good news is that these facilities arent loans, they are just the moneitzation of your largest current asset - your a/r.

Accounts receivables loans in Canada go by many different terms, some you have heard of, some you may not have. They include invoice discounting, factoring, receivable financing, and our favorite, confidential invoice discounting or factoring. In effect you are maximizing your cash flow from operations by monetizing your assets, i.e. the receivables.

Accounts receivable loans are your answer to being stuck in the middle - at one end of the spectrum is your investment in accounts receivables and providing terms to your own clients, while at the other end it’s a questions of not being able to access traditional business credit to finance that same investment.

So, do you know a good solution when you see one? Receivable financing would appear to be that solution. Turning your company into a cash flow machine via receivable finance is a solid strategy being adopted by thousands of Canadian firms.

The process is simple, as you generate sales invoices are immediately sold, i.e. converted into cash, at a discount. In Canada the rates of business factoring range widely - anywhere from 9% per annum to 1-3% per month.

Business owners accept this pricing when they realize they have decent gross margins to absorb this cost, while at the same time using the new found cash to take discounts with suppliers and sell more and generate more profits. In some cases 50-100%of the financing cost can be offset in the manner in which you use your new found cash flow.

Canadian business owners would prefer that their clients and suppliers didn’t know they were financing their A/R via accounts receivable loans. That’s whey they investigate C I D, confidential invoice discounting, allowing them to bill and collect their own receivables as they wish. (Traditional factoring via the U.S. and U.K. model requires your clients be notified.

In summary, thousands of firms in Canada are moving to this type of financing. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can review costs, procedures and benefits, allowing you to win the cash flow and working capital battle!





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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Don’t Hire A Business Advisor / Brokers For Your M And A And Capital Loan Needs In Canada

Never, we repeat, never hire or work with a Canadian business financing advisor for your loan or m&a needs , unless of course you know everything about business financing in Canada, have unlimited credible contacts, and have the time and resources to do it yourself .

Well, we think we have hopefully made our point that there will be many times when there will be significant value in not wasting internal resources and people time when you are looking for business financing. Who would ever want to be accused of making the mistake of trying to manage and execute on all your business financing needs without any professional help. No one we know, that’s for sure.

Over time, and trust us we don’t know why, we have come to dislike the word ' broker '. In reality we confess at the same time that we see everyone uses a mortgage, insurance or other type of broker to get a qualified, credible ' best deal '. So the middleman approach clearly has value to the consumer. Does it have value to a business? We think so, and here’s why.

Whether your business is in hyper growth mode, or at the opposite end of the spectrum, in financial distress surely you welcome the concept of an expert. You could be looking to complete an m&a transaction, or looking for loan and working capital facilities. Naturally there are many routine aspects of a business that do not require expert help, but when it comes to key issues around your businesses ultimate success are you 100% confident, on your own, all the time , that you have data , information, and possibilities covered. We doubt it, and we think you do also.

In effect you're looking for a ' business doctor' if we can call it that. And that’s probably not a bad analogy given the importance you might place on going to a good doctor for serious reasons.

There are always questions you have when you are considering Canadian business financing, and a good business advisor will answer those questions based on experience, at the same time pointing out alternative you may never have thought of.

But, and its a bit but , never assume that everyone out there who tells you they can assist in business financing, loan and working capital needs, or m&a help .. Knows of what they speak. The choice of a solid advisor can make or break your success in Canadian business financing for new or refinancing capital.

So what should you look for in a good advisor? We're pretty sure it’s intuitive, but we speak to so many clients who feel either burned or let down by past experience. So focus on some key areas such as the advisor number of years in practicing what they do. Do they have solid credible contacts?

References are of course also great, and with the internet you can Google anyone in business with a reputation and determine a lot about the quality and reputation and credibility of that firm or person. Remember, you're entrusting them with your financing in a very confidential way, and that's important.

Don't settle for generalists also, focus in on someone who can deliver on the specific financing you need, in areas such as m&a, working capital, asset based financing, franchising, or more esoteric new products such as confidential invoice discounting, purchase order financing, tax credit financing, etc.

You ultimately want to feel comfortable on sharing information with this person or firm, reviewing pitfalls, and most importantly, representing your firm in its business financing needs.

So, call them anything, but call them. A Canadian business financing advisor, a loan broker or intermediary, a capital broker, etc. Focus on trust, credibility and experience, not the name. And some free help from Mr. Google isn’t a bad thing also. Utilize special or expert help when you need it, that's our recommendation.




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Canadian Business Capital – Bank Business Lines of Credit & Alternatives

Business Capital. Easier said than done, right? Let's examine how bank and other secured lenders offer business lines of credit - More importantly, we're going to bet a dollar ( we're conservative by nature!) that you might not be aware of some other options and alternatives for business line of credit financing !

Business operating lines are used to finance your investments. Your investments in receivables, inventory, and other current asset accounts of course. Canadian banks willingly offer these credit facilities (no seriously, they do) but the quality of the collateral they take is critical to that offering!

So how do the Canadian banks structure that facility in order to be made whole and feel comfortable in providing you with that business line of credit that is so badly needed for working capital and cash flow financing. For a starter, they take a first charge on the actual assets that are used to margin the facility - those current assets are accounts receivable, inventory ( raw materials, work in process and finished goods ) , all secured via a common security agreement which is typically referred to as a GSA ( General Security Agreement ) . You'll of course be surprised at how un - general and very specific this agreement is!

So once you have a bank operating line of credit how long does it last for. In our experience these facilities are renewed on an annual basis - with the two criteria for renewal being your business financials of course, as well as how the account has operated over the past year.

How are limits established for bank business lines of credit in Canada? Typical ' ratios '' or ' margining ' as we have called it are 75% of accounts receivable under 90 days, and some per cent age of inventory. It's only our opinion, but Canadian chartered banks really struggle with the inventory component of your business lines of credit - most typically because they can’t be expected to have experience on the value and disposal of all types of inventory. So typically you are very luck if you can get anywhere from 10-50% inventory financing on the value of your inventory.

Do your customers ever find out about how you are arranging business capital? Not really, the security is registered at a central registry, but clients and suppliers are never notified unless, of course, your loan is called.

Naturally many firms do also require long term financing commitments for business capital assets - i.e. those ' fixed assets' on our balance sheet . Typical bank term loans in Canada range from 3-5 years, sometimes longer, and have strict repayment and cash flow coverage requirements

As many Canadian business owners know, often personal assets are also charged as extra collateral for business lines of credit in Canada. These include cash savings, home equity, cash surrender value of life insurance policies, etc.

So why do the majority of Canadian business owners and financial managers always try to get bank financing in place. In might just be force of habit, but we think two other factors play a role. They are the cost of bank financing in Canada (its low!) and, as importantly, their lack of knowledge of other financial options.

There are other financial options for business capital in Canada other than the banks? Yes, there are! Prudent owners and managers should investigate ever growing alternatives including asset based lending, confidential invoice financing, tax credit financing, and purchase order financing, and unsecured cash flow loans. How's that for alternatives!

To more closely explore traditional or alternative options in business capital in Canada consider talking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor, who can put you on the path of business lines of credit that make sense.




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Business Finance Options Canada – Start Up & Commercial Loan Corporate Credit Facilities

It's not as bad as you think. No really, we're serious. We're talking about business finance options in Canada - all the way thru from start up to corporate credit commercial loan facilities.

It's not uncommon for clients to know what or how much they need for their Canadian business financing needs. What their challenge usually concerns knows what their financing choices are, what the various benefits are, and most importantly, how to go about securing that financing. Let’s review!

When you think about it we are talking essentially about sources of funds - and that comes from either borrowing facilities of personal or corporate equity. We're not going to focus too much today on personal resources - typically those are collateral home mortgages, credit cards, and the proverbial friends and family. We'll let you address those yourselves - instead let’s focus on corporate borrowing, whether you are a start up or an established business.

So what are the key essentials in corporate credit facilities? They are supplier credit (most business owners don’t unfortunately consider that as a source of financing, but it is, working capital financing, and loans form banks and the government. (The Canadian SBL loan program goes to 350k and we firmly believe its one of the best facilities available to small and medium sizes business in Canada).

When you think about it no one financing solution will rarely cover off everything you need. In reality it’s a combination of borrowing structures that will allow you achieve all the working or long term corporate credit and capital you need. For example, the majority of equipment in Canada is finance via equipment leasing and financing - which in the 2011 environment enjoys a very robust popularity.

However, lease equipment financing is long term capital, matched against the useful life of the asset - in many cases you are instead looking for operating capital, the ever required ' cash flow ' that is the life blood of your company . That capital is sourced via a bank operating line of credit, a working capital facility via a non bank lender, or a major asset based lending facility that comprises receivables, inventory and fixed assets.

One of the most popular and growing methods of financing today is termed ' factoring ‘. Other names it goes by are receivable finance, invoice discounting, and our favorite C I D, which stands for confidential invoice discounting. This type of financing gives you all the working capital and cash flow you need, hence its popularity, but is more expensive than traditional corporate credit facilities via a bank. It's a very misunderstood form of finance; essentially it’s the sale of your receivables as you generate revenue.

Our afore mentioned C I D facility is a factoring or invoice discounting facility that doesn’t force you to tell your customers that you are financing your firm thru this type of arrangement .

In summary, the type of capital and the amount of business finance you require depends on which stage or cycle your business is in , either start up or advanced and mature .

You can best understand the type of financing you need by ensuring you have a solid handle of your operating expenses and capital costs requirements. Cash flow projections and a list of potential other collateral are always helpful... allowing you to feel confident that you can appro0ach external financing successful.

Consider speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on funding you need today and for the future.




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Revealed ! How Funding Of A Franchise Purchase Works In Canada – Franchise Financing Lenders & Your Loan

We're never ones to be negative, so all we can say is that you can look at it as a problem, or an opportunity. We're talking about how franchise financing lenders work in Canada. Unless we're missing something, you've just made the decision to purchase a franchise in Canada - so how exactly does the approval and funding of that loan work? We're going to clarify that for you, right about now..!

The positive aspect of our information is simply the fact that franchising is ' hot ' again. Of course it’s always been around, and the actual stats on how much of the industry plays an important part in the overall economy is surprising to most. But when world fell to its knees, financially speaking, in the 2008-2009 global recession (and boy did that include Canada) many industries felt the pain, as did franchises. Well, the good news is that's over.

Clients always seem a bit overwhelmed with all the different aspects of putting together their total plan for their new franchise business. That includes choosing the business that matches your skills and investment, picking a location, finding employees, etc. But the biggest challenge seems to be the financing of that purchase via a franchise loan.

So is traditional bank financing available for a pure franchise loan. We're not 100% sure we can give you a ' yes ' on that one, but don’t despair as you will soon see. We suppose if you have pristine credit, a high net worth, strong outside collateral and guarantors, etc you could facilitate a term loan to purchase your business. That unfortunately is not he profile of many of the clients we meet that are looking for loan funding.

So what are those options then? In reality the specialty finance firms that focus on providing only franchise finance are a very small number in Canada. There are more of them in the U.S., but that’s not our turf! The specialty firms that provide the financing for the industry in Canada focus on the large well know brands that have lots of franchise units, strong franchisor financials, etc. That is only of course a small percentage of the total industry.

So whats the solution then if you're in the other majority, the hundreds or thousands of entrepreneurs who still require some major financing assistance. The answer is the Canadian BIL/CSBF program. It’s a customized federal program for businesses in Canada, with a loan funding cap of $350,000.00.

This program allows a Canadian bank to be your new franchise funding partner - mostly because the loan is guaranteed by the government so there is only nominal risk to the bank. Would the bank lend you those funds outside the program? As we said, maybe... but we're sketpical.

So if you are a new entrepreneur with a reasonable record of business success and experience how exactly do you proceed to qualify for your franchise loan purchase financing?

We going to break that down into a few key areas - they are focusing on the size of your investment, determining your own equity or deposit into the transaction, and then focusing on key fundamentals required for a loan approval.

Key elements to focus on are ensuring you can prove you have a reasonable credit history. Prepare a business plan, or have a plan prepared for you , that focuses on you, the franchisor, the financial potential of your business , one that demonstrates you're ready to run a business, and , oh yes, repay that loan .

Typical investments by yourself in the new business range from 25-40%... and as far as that credit rating goes you should have a credit bureau score of 650+.

Is there one secret to getting a final approval? We think it’s a bit more complicated than that, but not as troubling as you might think. Focus on a business plan, presenting yourself properly during the proposal process. We point out to clients that every new business, small and large actually goes through these same processes.

We recently came across a statement that maintains the four ' P’’s of franchise success are people, purpose, payment and protection. In summary, a good business candidate, a good franchise pick, ability to show you will be successful, and a back up plan if things don’t work out - example: spouses outside income.

So can we summarize? Franchising is popular again today... the best franchise financing lenders are specialized firms as well as the ever popular BIL/CSBF loan. Be prepared, and if you need assistance, consider seeking a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can fast track you to loan funding success for your new business.




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/franchise_financing_lenders_funding_loan_purchase.html

ABL Asset Based Financing - #2 But Trying Harder In Canadian Business Lending!

Is it really that bad to be #2 in anything? In business and in particular business lending it could actually be an advantage sometimes don't you think? With apologies to Vince Lombardi (... 'winning is the only thing ...’) we're talking specifically about ABL asset based financing.

While even we admit ABL lending might be # 2 today behind Canadian chartered bank commercial financing there is no doubt that asset based financing, or abl commercial lending facilities are fast becoming the financing mechanism of choice for thousands of Canadian businesses . Let's examine why ABL trys harder!

Revolving commercial credit lines via asset finance are essentially secured credit lines collateralized by your assets. Could it be any more simple? You use the ' value ' of your working capital assets to generate borrowing capability on a daily basis. By the way, in some cases your fixed assets can be part of that daily borrowing equation also!

Let's come back to that word ' value’ re those assets. That is the true power of asset finance and probably why ABL business lending is so fast growing in popularity. As compared to a bank facility which relies heavily on many other formulas and ratios to determine your borrowing base on a monthly basis ABL finance focuses solely on the maximum amount of real true liquidity in your receivables, inventory, etc .

The hard truth is that ABL lenders actually want you to borrow to the maximum of your facility, because as independent finance firms their only source of income is the finance charges on your facility. It is as simple as that. While Canadian chartered banks (we still love them by the way!) can be on occasion criticized for fluctuating on where they stand on commercial borrowing in a number of industries ABL business lending tends to always be there, in good times and bad.

And speaking of those good times , the risk profile that ABL lenders look at is clearly all over the map - by that we simply mean that your company can be doing great and in ' hyper growth' mode, or you can actually be seriously challenged financially and still be a prime candidate for ABL finance.

In business it's as much about the people, and in asset based lending the management of these firms are typically ultra experienced in asset valuation of your receivables, industry, and your industry as a whole .That is partially why we have seen numerous cases where a commercial credit facility has been tripled when it converted to an ABL facility from a bank facility.

And here’s a little secret about ABL finance in Canada , some of the chartered banks actually have small boutique ABL divisions within the bank that compete with regular commercial divisions within that same entity . How ironic!

So getting back to our # 2 and trying harder scenario, why does this form of business lending seem to work better. It's just that your assets are converted into a higher level of borrowing for liquidity and working capital. Typical rations for this type of facility are 90% of your A/R and 40-50%, or more of your inventory and fixed assets. Now that’s a true borrowing base!

We'll never know why, but the cost of asset based credit lines is always a top of mind priority for our clients understanding of this method of finance. To be honest, the range of cost in asset based financing is wide.

Facilities are available at even better rates than your chartered bank, but in many cases they are equal to or more costly. But don’t forget that it’s about access to capital, not borrowing cost, since you can take that capital and convert it to more sales and profits. It's all about leveraging your assets for growth!

For your higher borrowing power you attain with this type of business lending you must have the ability to report on your assets, so regular financials and constant updating of inventory and A/R is an essential requirement. The collateral for ABL lenders is those assets, not ratios and covenants!

So, in summary, ABL is clearly #2 today in asset finance. Will it be number one, we're not sure we know or care care !... but we are sure that if Canadian business owners and financial managers check out this form of commercial financing they will clearly see the financial benefits of more liquidity and 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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

How To Finance Working Capital – Imagine Your Canadian Company had the Credit & Financing It Needed

It almost seems like a pipe dream, does it not? Actually having the cash flow and financing you need. And yes, don’t take it personally; even the big guys have that same challenge. Let’s examine how your company can assess and address methods to finance working capital, accessing credit and financing in a manner that works.

A good way to look at things is both externally and internally. From the internal perspective it’s a question of knowing the amount of working capital you need - as well as managing your day to day current assets (primarily A/R and inventory) in a way which optimizes cash flow.

And from the external perspective it’s about assessing solutions, but more importantly, solutions that work. It's those inflows and outflows that count. Probably the simple way to look at it is simply knowing your operating costs, while at the same time collecting sales, i.e. your A/R, efficiently as possible.

When clients tell us they have made mistakes in their decision to finance working capital we can almost guess what happened. They have mis-matched funds, meaning that cash flow and working capital from operations may in fact have been used to pay for fixed assets.

It's easier said than done, but the ' normal ' way to finance your business is short term lines of credit, typically through your bank. But credit and financing is difficult for small and medium sized firms that can’t meet all the criteria required by a chartered bank.

One solid option is injecting what we can call permanent working capital into the business. In effect it’s a cash flow loan, payable in fixed monthly installments. This type of transaction is typically available through Canada's government owned business bank, and you have to have a solid proof of historical cash flow to show you can repay the term loan, which is typically unsecured!

We spoke of matching funds, properly. That’s important. So if you are considering asset purchases utilize lease financing, minimizing your cash outflow of course, and allowing your company to structure a long term lease payment that matches the useful life of the asset you're purchasing.

Smaller and medium sized business, mostly smaller, tend to mix the personal finances of the owner with the business. That has positive and negative effects. In the last few years the merchant cash advance loan has become popular for many smaller businesses, retail in particular. It allows you to monetize, or ' cash flow ' today, future sales.

When address the need to finance working capital it’s recommended you have a handle on the assessment tools. It's not as complicated as you might think. Calculate your days sales outstanding, as well as a similar calculation for inventory. Those two calcs will show the total time it takes for a dollar to flow through your company. You have to bridge that gap now with cash flow financing.

General rules of thumb indicated that you need to have 2 dollars of receivables and inventory for one dollar of payables. That’s never been our favorite calculation because it simply reflects the build up of those current assets. We're more concerned about turnover,

So how do Canadian firms assess working capital solutions? In many cases it all comes down to two issues, the size of your cash flow need, and your firms overall credit quality. Simply speaking larger firms with solid financials can access bank credit.

Smaller and medium size firms have numerous options, some are short term in nature, and many times they come with a higher cost, but, and its a big but , it allows you generate all the cash flow you need to grow your business .

So what are those solutions? They are receivable financing, inventory financing, purchase order financing, tax credit financing, and asset based lending. Some, or a combination of these solutions will allow you to finance working capital properly and access credit you need to grow and profit.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on how these solutions work, what they cost, and how they can, either singularly, or grouped, solved the Canadian working capital and credit enigma.



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/finance_working_capital_company_credit_financing.html

Canadian Business Financing Challenges ? Let The Expert Lease Of Equpment Lending Be Your Guide!

No one said it was easy, that’s for sure. We're talking about the challenges Canadian business owners and financial managers face in business financing, specifically asset acquisition. So why does 80% of Canadian business utilize the lease of equipment as the solution to that challenge? Let’s look at equipment financing and lending as your stop gap to acquiring those new (or used) assets.

When you make the investment decision to purchase any asset for your business the ability to put together a lease agreement to match the useful life of that asset becomes puzzling sometimes. What type of lease and term is best?

Probably the best advice we can give clients is simply to make a reasonable assumption on the useful life of the asset and match the lease term to that same assumption. The quick example is of course not to use a 7 year lease to own scenario if you are financing a computer system. (Unless you're buying your computers at a better place than ours, we don’t seem to have generated 7 years from our last system!).

The other part of that equation is simply two worlds, ownership, or use. By focusing on those two elements you now have the ability to choose either a capital lease (ownership at end), or an operating lease (return or upgrade at end of term).
And those same two lease decisions can yield cash flow benefits, as well as accounting and tax implications that will work best for your firm.

It's probably just us, but we sometime intuitively feel that 99% of client looking to lease make that decision to conserve working capital. The lease of equipment is simply the answer to the lending question you've been facing - ‘How can we acquire the most amount of asset for the smallest amount of cash?".

The variety of assets in asset lending and leasing finance is endless. From a small photocopier of lap top to a major piece of production equipment on your shop floor, they all can be financed.

It's not unusual to view client thoughts on the lease of equipment as simply short term or temporary. But what is the shortest term you can lease an asset for? In the Canadian environment that term tends to be 2 years. Why 24 months. The honest answer is simply that it’s not really economical or profitable in the lending environment to lease an asset for a period less than two years. So now you know!

Many clients further enhance a shorter lease term by choosing an operating lease - recall that it is our lease to ' use ' strategy, which works best with assets not ultimately required by your firm, or those that have a lot of technological obsolescence attached to them. There are some accounting rules that need to be met when you are trying to achieve a pure operating lease, so it’s often best to talk to your accountant when structuring such a transaction.

At the end of the day the lease of equipment as your business financing strategy has to make sense from an overall viewpoint of rate, term and structure. Your firms own credit worthiness already determines your rate- you just have to ensure the lessor has the same opinion on credit worthiness as do you! And we’ve given you the ammunition on how to focus on term and type of lease already, so you're set.

So is equipment leasing the ' holy grail ' of business financing in Canada. We're not saying that. but, remember, 80% of all business is doing it, so that has to mean something. For expert advice, guidance and solutions on business financing via equipment lending consider speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can provide you with guidance for a proper asset finance solution.





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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/lease_of_equipment_business_financing_lending.html

Canadian AR (A/R) Finance Exposed – How Receivables Factoring Companies Invoice Finance

Laid open to view. That's a solid definition for ' exposed '. It almost sounds like a steamy spy novel..! Well... perhaps not as exciting as that... but lets take the covers off A/R finance in Canada. How does receivables factoring and invoice finance work and another thing... didn't we hear it was expensive..?????

It's our observations that usually after Canadian business owners and financial managers understand how ar ( a/r ) finance works that they immediately focus in on trying to understand how they can achieve the benefits of receivables factoring , while at the same time reducing the cost . In years gone by the perception of factoring was that it was akin to the same negative perception we give to unscrupulous car dealers.

Bottom line? Things have changed, and invoice financing is powering, yes we say powering! thousands of companies all across Canada.

So, back to pricing - we're going to expose some of the key fundamentals around this type of business financing. In the case of how you are charged its actually more simply than you think, the pricing of your transactions revolves around the total time it takes to collect your invoices, the actual size of your approved facility, and thirdly, an d in our opinion as important, who you choose as an invoice finance partner !

So what actually is the best pricing you can achieve in Canada from an ar finance strategy point of view? Well, let’s just say the spectrum is broad, with costs ranging from 5-6% per annum to 1-3% per month. Wow! Let's repeat that wow! That is clearly a huge range. So clients tend to ask where they fit into the pricing of their receivables factoring equation.

In Canada there are 2-3 tiers of firms which dominate invoice finance. They are a select group of U.S. and Canadian banks, some major independently owned Canadian and U.S. firms, and finally, hundreds of what ca be only termed as small ' mom and pop ' shops, providing facilities that might range in the 15-25k/month range .

Where does your firm fit. The truth around pricing is that once your firm has a volume of approx 250k per month you can start to achieve some significant invoice finance savings. Want to know another secret of the industry. It's simply that if lock into a facility for a year then you can actually achieve a price reduction, while open facilities tend to charge a bit more.

Our favorite and recommended type of facility is called C I D - It stands for confidential invoice discounting. What is it? It's simply a receivables factoring facility that allows you to bill and collect your own receivables. Your competitors might be using invoice finance but they are under the stringent control of their factor partner, who is intensely involved in the invoicing and notification to your customers of the financing you have arranged.

And, guess what, C I D financing, contrary to popular Rumour, is the same or less expensive that traditional U.S. and U.K. type factoring which have dominated the Canadian landscape for years,

AR Finance is at the end of the day a business financing facility that involves yourself and your partner firm. We recommend you deal with Canadian firms who understand the business landscape here and who ensure you have a facility that makes sense from a cost point of view. The right partner will also not ' nickel and dime ' you with respect to hidden fees, surcharges, etc. There isn’t a day when we don’t meet a client who ' thinks' he knows what they are paying for invoice financing, until, unfortunately, we expose the true pricing around his or her facility.

Want the real straight talk and goods on receivables factoring in Canada. Perhaps, just perhaps you might want to talk to an unbiased expert. Seek a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor, and get on the inside of the true benefits of receivables finance!





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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Don’t Strike Out With Canadian Leasing Finance Companies – Hit Home Runs Via A Financing Equipment Company

Sports analogies don't always work, but this time we think it’s quite appropriate. Striking out, i.e. losing when you are considering financing equpment strategies in Canadian lease finance should not be part of your preferred ' home run ' strategy when you work with a lease company.

The exhilarating feeling of the ' home run ' in equipment finance comes from completing a transaction for a new or used asset, knowing that you have achieved solid success , i.e. your ' home run ' based on a final great approval, rate, lease term, and flexible structure .

Strike outs rather, come from that other feeling, the sinking one, realizing that you have been pushed into a transaction that doesn’t make sense. Many lease finance firms in Canada are only happy to put you into a final structure that fits their approval and security criteria, not necessarily yours.

So, keeping our sports analogy in place, how do you create a winning streak for financing equipment success in Canada? We believe its simpler than you think, if, and its a big if sometimes, you are ‘armed and dangerous’ relative to knowing your lease options , and what leasing finance benefits accrue most favorably to your company .

First it’s all a questions of ' fit '. In Canada there are three general categories of a financing equpment company. They are small, medium and large... ticket that is. (Almost feels like buying a suit, doesn’t it?!) So when you have a new or used asset to finance remember that you should be working with a firm that specializes in your size and asset type. Why spin wheels approaching , talking to , and asking for a lease quote for a new computer system for your office when the lessor is only looking at transactions several million dollars and over - bottom line its a waste of your time, and theirs .

Step 2 simply understands lease products. In Canada, we keep it relatively simple... (The U.S. has tax leases, trac leases, leverages leases, synthetic leases, etc!) But us Canadians can generally get by with capital or operating leases. A simple way to remember both is simply lease to own, ( capital ) or lease to use, (operating ). Knowing the type of lease you want can save you a lot of time, plus potentially thousands in interest rate and total payments made savings.

The 2 other areas of Canadian leasing finance that you should be knowledgeable about are lease options, and approval criteria. When you investigate leasing finance is aware of critical issues such as down payments, security deposits, the total all in rate, hidden registration fees, etc. Bottom line; spend some time on certain areas of the fine print when that makes sense.

We done necessarily agree, but most clients think that rate and monthly payment is the ultimate home run criteria in Canadian leasing company negotiations . We haven’t told them that in Canada, unbeknownst to most customers, you actually get to pick your own rate.

How? Simply because rates are provided based on credit criteria, and knowing your firms credit and how to present it generally allows you to gain the best rate possible without much negotiation. The good news is that Canadian firms with great credit can get lease financing, and firms with less than great credit, i.e. financial challenges can also achieve lease approval through a more structured approach - i.e. a shorter term, or perhaps a down payment.

Well that’s it. Hopefully you feel confident now as you step up to the bat that you can achieve a financing equpment home run. Its simple , just remember our basic tips around lease types, how rates are determined, and types of leases and how the industry is segmented in Canada .

P.S. See you at the World Series!



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Wanted ! Canadian Companies Looking For The Government Loan For Small Business – ‘ SBL Loans ‘

They are offering. Why isn’t your company taking?! We're talking about the best deal in town for Canadian small and medium sized businesses - the government loan for small business - in our affectionate terms - ' The SBL ‘! (Small Business Loan).

Do you equate business loans and the word ' success ‘in the same sentence when you think of your chances of business financing success? Most clients we meet don't! They recount countless challenges in meeting their financing needs from what we term as traditional financing sources.

So, time to give up. Never, we say. One of the most viable options you can explore are SBL business loans for your company. They are offered (perhaps the better word is sponsored) by the federal government and the rates, terms and structures of this small business loan beats anything out there, and we'll show you why.

A word of caution though - you need to invest a little bit of time in understanding two key elements of the program - first , what it offers, and secondly, how you get to the goal line .. Quickly! (Many clients we meet are frustrated by their timelines in achieving this financing - you don’t have to be in their shoes if you follow our advice)

So, what is the program and what does it finance? That seems like a good start. The SBL government loan - small business is sponsored by the federal Industry Canada department. The program has been in place for many years, and last year almost hit 1 Billion dollars in financing for your competitors. (We want to put you on that same boat!) . The programs official name is the BIL program, and it is a term loan, typically five or seven years in duration, at rates of 3% over prime.

While many larger corporations are required to provide full personal guarantees of owners for their business financings the SBL loan does not, requiring only that the business owner guarantee only 25% of the loan amount - how about that!.

Misunderstanding. That’s what we run into a lot when we explain to clients what the loan can be used for. Unfortunately it is not a cash flow, but a loan that can be used for 3 separate categories of assets, equpment, leaseholds, and real estate also. Our own experience is that it is rarely used for real estate, but it’s nice to know that that facility is available to your firm.

Timelines. Time is money - who hasn’t heard that one? You can easily facilitate your SBL utilizing the motto of the Boy Scouts of Canada - ' BE PREPARED!'

When you are ready to commit to the loan ensure you have a crisp business plan ready, one that addresses the needs of your business and has a financial model in place showing repayment of the loan. Your own respectable personal credit rating is key also, and the loan typically requires a credit bureau score of 650 to gain approval .

While we speak in terms of a government loan the reality is that the feds charge our chartered banks with the actual administration of the loan - so in actuality the loan is available on almost ever street corner in Canada - where there is a chartered bank branch of course !

Want to learn more, and, even more importantly, fast track success. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on government loan for small business - Get the SBL working for you... today!




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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Is A ‘ Good Enough ‘ Equipment Loan & Finance Lease Better Than ‘ Best ‘ For Canadian Finance Lease Needs ?

We're pretty sure, in fact very sure, that ' good enough' is not the attitude you take in any aspect of your business or business financing needs. Settling for 2nd best in today’s competitive environment is not a recommended strategy! So let’s look at how you can achieve some of the best leasing and financing equipment loan strategies for finance lease success in Canada.

New assets are always a challenge for acquisition when Canadian business owners and financial managers assess their respective financial positions. The price and therefore how you will finance these assets is of course critical to your overall asset acquisition strategy.

So when it comes to reducing cash outflows and in effect saving monies via a financing strategy is any wonder why over 80% of Canadian businesses utilize leasing financing as an integral part of their finance strategy.

But the reality is that many owners and managers don't understand the make up and the competitive offerings that make up the Canadian equipment loan and lease landscape. Even more importantly just understanding the rights and obligations and options of different types of leases can save any business owner or manager thousands of dollars, depending on overall purchase price. Even more dramatically we can say that making the wrong decision can actually cost you significantly.

Let’s utilize a quick example. Let's say you are focused on the amount of monthly payment and want to buy a 150,000 computer and software package (yes, software can be leased). So you contact a firm who you think can give you the best monthly payment, and you find you are quoted and approved for a 5 year term, monthly payment of 3000.00$. A quick expert calculation will tell you that you will pay 31000$ in interest over that 5 year term at current competitive rates. Sounds ok?? Maybe, maybe not.

Moving on... what if we told you that you could finance that same system for 3500$ / mo for a 3 year term , and at the end of the term you could return, upgrade , or choose to extend the lease .
For only 500$ more you have shortened your term, recognizing that most computers don’t last 5 years. In effect you have utilized an operating lease strategy to effectively manage your assets - that’s a solid financing decision in leasing financing.

We have utilized a simple example of how you need to in essence separate the pricing and the purchase of the asset from the decision of how to finance that same asset.

We're the first to admit the leasing process can be perceived as complex in Canada. There are hundreds of equipment loan and finance lease firms. They have different ' credit boxes ‘- meaning simply you must fit into their asset, deal size, and credit criteria box. Additionally numerous firms tend to complicate matters by throwing arcane terms at you such as ' down stroke ' , ' security deposit ', 'capital lease ' ' off balance sheet financing ' ' admin set up fees ' .. Etc. And on it goes.

In summary, leasing financing in Canada has huge benefits. Billions of dollars of assets are leased every year. Your competitors finance their assets. And yes, you could very quickly go out and achieve a ' good enough ' lease.

Want a better solution though? Simple speak to a trusted, credible an experienced Canadian business financing advisor. ' Good enough ' will soon become best when it comes to sourcing and structuring asset financing that makes sense from a Canadian equipment loan perspective .

P.S. We knew you would never settle for 2nd best!





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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Canadian Lenders In Franchise Finance – Lending & Funding Options For Franchisee Financing

Wouldn't it be great to know that after you made one of the largest decisions in your business life - (buying a franchise business) that you had some solid options and tips around acquiring the business?

Let examine the current state ( we always work in the real world ) of franchise finance in Canada - who are the lenders in franchising and what funding and lending options might work best for you .

Many clients that approach us seem automatically skeptical that franchise finance can be easily achieved in the current Canadian business environment. No doubt they can be forgiven as its been a couple tough years with respect to the financial implosion (2008-2009), recession, etc. So boy do their eyes light up when we assure them that franchise finance financing funding is still available, and the lending criteria and solutions are not as demanding as they might think.

On the other hand though, what part of business is not a ' cake walk ' .Almost none, right. Therefore your ability to be prepared is critical.

We can generally put the idea of being prepared into two categories - having a strong proposal, and ensuring also that you are prepared to keep up your half of the bargain with your funding partner. Whats that part of the bargain? It's your equity investment of down payment into the business, the balance coming from your franchise finance loan funding.

Think about it... in many ways it is probably actually more easy to secure business franchise funding than any other normal start up since you have the benefit of a ' brand ' and ' reputation' backing you .. I.e. the Franchisor.

We encourage all clients to start assessing their financing options way in advance of their franchise final decision. While you may think that you have to tap into major savings or home equity, or collapse RRSP's, the reality is that you need to come up with anywhere from 30-40% , generally speaking , of your desired loan amount.

Unfortunately, and we run into this almost all the time, many franchisees don’t have a sense of how the franchise funding lenders assess their personal credit history. It's more simply than you think. The entire personal credit history of everyone in Canada comes down to a numerical score at the credit bureau. The magic number you need is 650 (or more!). You can easily check your score yourself.

Next steps generally revolve around assessing your financing options. For some of the larger franchise chains one or two well known independent finance companies can handle all your franchising needs from a lending / loan viewpoint. But, here’s the kicker, the majority of franchises in Canada are funded by the Government BIL program .It is absolutely the best deal in Canadian business, flexible rates, terms and structures, low personal guarantees, ability to prepay without penalty... bottom line it couldnt get any better .

Naturally you want to expedite your transaction. That is done by ensuring you have a crisp business plan and financial forecast in place - highlighting your business experiences, profit and cash flow potential, and info on the success of your franchisor as your new partner in Canadian business. You simply want to focus on one thing, showing your ability to repay the franchise loan.

Supplemental financing can also be achieved quite creatively if you have the right assistance - that might come in the form of a merchant advance loan against future sales, equipment leasing, or a straight unsecured working capital term loan.

So the good news is you have some great options in franchise finance and financing your new business. It’s up to you to assess those options, be prepared to present your plan. Want some great assistance? Consider working with a trusted credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor in franchise finance funding.





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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Power Your Business Financing with Canadian ABL Services – Why Asset Based Lending Works

It's always about the bank. Well ... not always... It seems that Canadian business financing continues to evolve and Canadian ABL services via asset based financing credit facilities are slowly getting to the top of the popularity pile.

Why does this type of financing work well and why is it becoming the accepted alternative to traditional Canadian chartered bank financing? We think we know why.

Although it might seem that the Canadian business and economic environment changes quickly these days we maintain that for the last two or 3 years the one thing that hasn’t changed is the ability for Canadian business owners and financial managers to get ' traditional ' financing from those great folks at the bank.

Skepticism and bank regulations in Canada seem to eliminate more and more qualified business borrower’s everyday. So it’s a struggle and if you are a small or medium sized firm in Canada the ability to grow or change your business is difficult.

Enter ABL lending in the Canadian marketplace. This type (we call it non-bank) of revolving credit facility is the new ' band aid ' for almost any size business, filling the void between traditional financing.

So why an asset is based lending facility able to work for your firm when a bank facility might not even is attainable. We guess it’s about risk and reward, in that for the same or higher cost almost any decent sized business has the ability to qualify for ABL services and financing.

The other side of the coin is also that the whole approval process is often quicker, in that there is only one key agenda item to review - your assets. Typically these assets are receivables; inventory and equipment, with real estate a borrowing possibility also, included right in your asset based lending facility.

We speak of the ' power ' of ABL. The true power lies simply in the fact that the assets we mentioned that are used as collateral are margined significantly higher than in the manner that a bank would margin those same assets. So it isn’t your financial statements strength that has the power - it’s those ' assets ' within the financials!

The broad appeal of asset based lending also lies in the fact that it’s flexible, that the other side of our ABL power equation. Your firm doesn’t necessarily have to be profitable (it helps ... but not required) and even if you face current financial challenges and setbacks you are still eligible. Even special loans clients can use ABL to escape from the restrictive claws of a special loans environment.

So whats our bottom line - it simply that if the Canadian banking environment continues to be unable to serve the demands of fast growing or challenged business... well... ABL financing services will step in and nicely fill that gap.

Ultimately it still might be your business goal to obtain a ' traditional ' facility. That’s ok of course. In the meantime thought consider the true power of asset based lines of credit as a funding option that will meet all your financing needs... today! Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor to eliminate that uphill financing battle you've been facing.



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/abl_lending_financing_canadian_services_asset.html

Unique Canadian Cash Flow Financing & Working Capital Loans - Finance Options

The Gap. That was the essence of a recent business story in Canada's national business newspaper regarding business financing optimism in Canadian business.At the core of business finance is financing working capital, generating cash flow and being aware of loans and finance solutions that make sense for your firm from a cost and benefits manner.

The incredible part of the May 2011 article was that although Canadian business owners and financial managers were more optimistic about their business these days, dramatically so, but 70% of respondents said that access to ' cash ‘ and capital was still a challenge . Wow. do we ever envy that other 30% who seems to have all the cash flow and working capital financing they need!

There are some unique working capital loans and strategies that work for you, it’s simply a matter of understanding what your current needs are, assessing your financial position, and most importantly, understanding your financial alternatives.
When we think of financing working capital you need to focus on the following, receivables and inventory, other assets, as well as your ability to re structure and re organize your firm if in fact that’s required .

In many cases a simple re financing of existing, owned assets is a unique strategy that often makes sense. This can be done via a sale leaseback strategy, or, not as commonly used, a short or intermediate bridge loan of refinanced assets such as equipment, real estate, etc.

At the core of looking at either traditional or more alternative or unique cash flow and finance solutions is simply to understand the cost and benefits of these strategies. Those costs vary with your overall credit quality and can range from a point or two over prime to 1-2% per month, depending on your current financial position.

Many business owners wrestle with how to simply understand working capital, which allows them to then determine their needs. Unfortunately the text book or your accountant doesn’t do a great job of that... in that they tell us go to the balance sheet, subtract current liabilities from current assets, and that’s supposedly your magic number. We wish!

So we tell clients to look at some very rudimentary but useful tools and allow them to assess their cash flow and loans strategies. One is simply the metrics of the operating cycle - understanding how fast you collect your receivables, how your inventory turns, and the average number of days you take to pay your key payables. Simply tally up the total amount of days in your A/R and inventory and you will find you can’t finance that excess just by stalling suppliers/payables.

The shortfall brings us to those solutions you are looking for. You could finance all your working capital if you paid your suppliers every half year or so, but they won't really buy into that plan!

In Canada the traditional solutions for working capital are bank lines of credit - the only caveat being you have got to have decent financial strength, profitability, good owner credit and assets, etc.

Failing bank financing in Canada you have the ability to access just receivable financing - our favorite facility is called C I D - a method in which you receive cash for your receivables immediately, and bill and collect under your own control.

Other more robust solutions are what we term working capital facilities or asset based loans. These finance loans (they are not loans per se) combine your receivables, inventory and fixed assets into one revolving line of credit. The more sophisticated a facility you utilize brings you maximum margining of your assets.

Alternatively a more esoteric candidate on the horizon is purchase order financing and contract financing - your suppliers are paid by the lender. It’s more costly, but boy does it work to allow you to generate sales you may never have been able to entertain on your own.

So whats our bottom line - we guess it’s simply don't despair! Understanding your operating cycle, assessing the amount of capital you need, and then weighing those needs against the best solution, traditional or alternative, is clearly your recommended route.

More info? Questions ? Ready to begin? Simply seek the services of a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can provide you with cash flow finance solutions that make sense.



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/cash_flow_financing_working_capital_loans_finance.html

Best Tips On Good Lease Rates , Pricing and Leasing Options in Canada

Is it possible to feel that you are getting the best lease rates and pricing with respect to equipment financing options you are considering? We think your leasing and asset financing prowess can be substantially increased with just some key basics under your belt.

Let's examine the key issues Canadian business owners and financial managers must consider in lease financing sourcing. Being well armed up front with some of those industry secrets will help you achieve those attractive rates, terms and structures we have been talking about, Just knowing some of those subtle industry differences ( dare we call them tricks ? !) can save you thousands of dollars on any asset acquisition .

Many clients tell us they receive a lease of financing quote and don't necessarily understand whether or not the financing offer is in fact competitive. All things being equal we're going to assume your firm has good credit quality. But don’t despair if you don’t because the one good thing about leasing options in Canada is that it's available for all firms, regardless of overall credit quality or financial challenges.

So a couple of key basics, here we go: First you need to understand how leasing pricing is derived. The key elements of any finance quote are: term of the lease, interest rate, present value, payment, and your end of term option. Remember also that when you know any 4 of those key elements you can always figure the last one out. We would point out that it helps to have a true ' financial calculator ' to derive exact pricing.

We cringe when we hear the phrase ' whats my rate ' from clients... simply because that isn’t always the aspect you should be focusing on in equipment financing. Want to know what leasing rates are in Canada - They range from 4 3/4% to 24% or more per annum in the current environment. In fact lease rates got a lot better in 2011 as the economy approved and Canadian leasing companies got their act in gear again.

One of the best tips we can give you is to do some real basic lease vs. buy analysis on your transaction. This of course assumes you are in a position to purchase the asset outright, because quite frankly most clients are looking at leasing options simply to conserve cash and working capital.

And oh yes, try not to view leasing as a commodity, when it facts it’s a specialized form of financing that allows you to acquire assets and finance them over their useful economic life. Think in terms of the asset you are acquiring, how it will affect your profitability, and don’t forget balance sheet and tax issues that lease financing can positively impact.

Here's a challenge. Do you think we could better any lease rate you could achieve on your own by say, 10%?! A quick way to do that is by letting us offer you an operating lease, which can significantly lower your payments, but still give you that financial flexibility. You can acquire assets without beefing up your balance sheet with debt - which is desirable for many business owners, particulary when it comes to assets that have a technological life cycle.

Remember also that by making a down payment or providing a security deposit, both of which may or may not be required also drives that pricing down.

So do we have a bottom line on the sometimes confusing aspects of lease rates, feeling you're getting a good price, and ensuring you know your leasing options when it comes to type of lease, etc? We think it simply investing some time and gathering knowledge on how the lease industry in Canada works, how it prices different leasing options.

Want a faster way to get the best deal. Simply speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can ensure the reasons you are financing those assets are being back by the best and competitive pricing.

Your Choice - Right Way / Wrong way ? Canadian Accounts Receivable Financing & Business Factoring

Avoiding the wrong way to do something in business is always desirable, who wouldn’t agree on that?

So when it comes to business financing and in particular accounts receivable financing and business factoring lets examine how doing things the right way will save you time , money , and in general give you a strong sense of comfort that you have made the right business financing decision .

Canadian business owners and financial managers who have chosen a/r financing as a cash flow strategy need to understand where they can go wrong, and take that other path! You do that by making the right business finance decisions in three areas - understanding how accounts receivable pricing works, ensuring you have the best facility in place , and finally, by default , feeling confident you have picked the best business factoring partner .

Let's dig in therefore! There is no business financing that is more misunderstood that A/R factoring. And it’s actually not hard to get the basics under your belt. The concept of time and cost is critical in factor pricing. When you sell your receivables and receive cash the same day you understand of course that the longer that receivable is uncollected... well your financing costs are going up.

We recommend C I D as the most preferred type of accounts receivable financing. It's the most logical Canadian solution, or the ' right way ‘. C I D is ' confidential invoice discounting ' - it’s your version of ' mind your own business’! Under confidential invoice discounting you bill and collect your own receivables. Unlike your competitors who use this type of financing - where their clients are put on notice that your competitor has chose to finance their receivables via a non bank solution. But, remember of course that in business factoring never has ' time means money ' been so important, so even though you are billing and collecting your own receivables focus on operational collection policies that allow you to maximize cash flow and lower financing costs .

The ' right way ' around this type of business financing should focus on picking your best partner firm that suits your overall needs. The facility you pick, and the partner that finances it for your company will make or break your success in this type of Canadian business finance.

The landscape in Canada is littered with many firms who are non Canadian, charge too much, disguise their inherent financing fee with all sorts of small administrative charges that add up, and finally, as we noted, insist that they are between you and your customer with respect to collections.

So is there a simple route to taking the right way when it comes to A/R finance. Consider a simple , safe solution by simply seeking a trusted Canadian business financing advisor - someone who understands the business factoring landscape, will recommend and put you in the right facility, and ensure that the cash flow and working capital benefits associated with this type of financing are focused solely on your firm.



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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/accounts_receivable_financing_factoring_business.html

An Unequaled Equipment Leasing & Commercial Financing Option - Your Best Canadian Deal

Can we be honest with ourselves, as Canadian business owners and financial managers and all agree that when it comes to equipment leasing and financing of commercial assets we are all looking for the best deal?

It's just human nature, but the reality is that the thousands of dollars you can save in real money by obtaining a lease approval at great rates, terms and structures also keeps us competitive and ahead of the game .

Let's examine some of those methods used to fast track you to the best options available -including probably our most important tip, which is where to go to and who to talk to when looking for the best equipment leasing and financing . More on that later.

Cost savings, as well as cash flow and working capital savings. That's the essence of Canadian equipment leasing and financing we think.

Leasing has been around a lot time, some maintain thousands of years, but a couple of factors have brought it pretty well to the top of Canadian business financing these days. One reason is simply that with the recession formally over (we read it in the newspaper, must be true) that thousands of companies are again looking to expand and grow again, finally!

Also another reason is that new industries have sprung up that are tailor made for lease finance, and those industries (energy, solar, etc) are poster boys for solid lease finance strategies. Commercial lease financing adapts perfectly to technologies that change and need to be upgraded. Most business owners know you have two lease finance options, capital leasing and operating leasing. Structuring your transaction around an operating lease gives you flexibility on your ability to upgrade, return, or extend the transaction at the end of term.

When it comes to a ' pure dollar ' or ' financial' analysis of equipment leasing most Canadian business owners quickly realize that to make a project financially feasible the benefits of the asset or project have to match the cash flows . And financing your transaction via a commercial lease with fixed monthly payments matched to the economic benefits of your asset clearly does that.

Your company’s ability to conserve cash flow and working capital allows you to put that new found capital into what really counts, i.e. inventory, staffing, new systems, etc.

There isn’t a day these days when a client asks ‘Can such and such an asset be leased ' - and we think you know already our answer to that one - that almost any asset can be leased, even intangibles such as software. More often than not , depending on your overall credit quality lease financing is a 100% financing scenario - on occasion , if your lease has to be structured it might require a down payment .

So who is providing lease financing in Canada and how can you get this unequaled business flexibility in commercial finance. The reality of the Canadian market is that its very fragmented, made up of captive firms within large mfg companies, as well as independent finance firms that are both U.S. and Canadian owned.

Rates vary with asset and credit quality, and the hard reality of your transaction is that it has to fit the particular, let’s call it a ' credit box ' of the firm you are dealing with. Even some of the banks have full fledged lease companies , although the credit criteria is significantly higher as you can imagine - i.e. great rate, but significant qualifications required on your part .

So how do you wade through the mass of firms and financial offerings in the Canadian marketplace .Would that take hundreds of hours, which you don’t have. The answer, speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing and leasing advisor who can structure a transaction that meets your needs. Simple, fast, and allows you to benefit from those unequaled asset financing options. What are you waiting for!


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 .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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