Don’t Overlook These 5 ( Other ) Leasing Finance Issues On Lease Documents In Canada

Successful Equipment Leasing In Canada Depends On …


Information on leasing finance in Canada and why issues such as lease documents should not be overlooked re risk and advantages for lessees in Canada .


Leasing Financing in Canada. It could not be any more popular than it is. In fact a recent major study indicated the following:



Canadian business optimism is increasing

Canadian firms have challenges accessing certain types of finance (not leasing by the way!)

Access to asset financing was the 2nd largest concern expressed by the majority of business in Canada (No surprise that government bureaucracy was the largest concern)

Canadian Asset lenders are the largest provider of debt asset financing in Canada behind the Chartered banks in Canada

84 Billion dollars of assets are under finance in Canada by asset based lenders/lessors



Awhile ago, we wrote on 5 key documentation issues that Canadian business owners and finance managers have to ensure they address when it comes to lease documents . We pointed out that often it’s the terms, conditions and documentation around equipment financing in Canada that makes or breaks a successful vs. non successful lease transaction.

Those issues were master leases, warranties, ensuring you understand the different between capital leases and operating leases, asset registration issues, taxes, and return requirements. So that's it right?

But wait, as the fellow on TV says, ' there's more! Let’s examine some other key issues you probably need to consider to ensure that confidence that comes with knowing you have entered into a win/ win transaction with a lessor of assets.

One of those is maintenance, meaning that you need to ensure you understand your written obligations on maintaining the asset in good working order. This becomes even more important when you in fact have the intention or obligation of returning the asset in question.

Insurance becomes our 2nd issues to ensure you consider. You will often be required to produce a certificate of insurance which names your lessor partner as beneficiary in case of loss, theft, damage, etc. That’s just common sense of course, given they are financing the asset.

Thirdly, in certain cases you might want to ensure your lease specifies you have the right to assign the transaction to a third or related party. Naturally you want to ensure this right, if required, is not ‘unreasonably withheld ' as the lawyers say.

You may also wish to address the area of location to ensure you have the right to move the leased asset to another location, perhaps a branch plant or other office, etc.

Finally, in the case of say technology assets, i.e. computers, telecom assets, etc, make sure you clearly understand what can be added to or removed from the asset. In our tech example a good example might be software or additional disk drives, etc.


There you have it, 5 ' OTHER ' things to consider in the critical area of lease documents in Canada. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in structuring a transaction that makes sense.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN EQUIPMENT FINANCING EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Let Financing Receivables Stop That Feeling Of Borrowed Time . “ Lien “ on Canadian Invoice Finance And Factoring For The Solution.

A Canadian Financing Strategy .. that works!


Information on financing receivables in Canada . How the invoice finance and factoring solution helps Canadian business stay cash flow positive!





Financing receivables in Canada. It's no secret that invoice finance, aka ' factoring ' is part of the ' new normal ' when it comes to Canadian business financing.

There are probably thousands of Canadian businesses who constantly feel they are living on borrowed time. That is why invoice financing, collateralized by a ' lien ' on your receivables has become a solution of either choice or necessity for the business owner or financial manager.

Oh and by the way some of the biggest corporations in the world also utilize this method of financing their growth and largest asset, the A/R.

A lot of the activity around financing receivables is, unfortunately, being driven by... yes; you guessed it, your clients. Why is that? Simply because they either by policy, or practice, have chosen to slow down their payments to yourself. We're aware of one case wherein one of the largest companies in the world advised their printers they would pay all invoices on 120 day terms. Talk about a painful hit to cash flow!

While we certainly realize that the typical payments from your clients are probably closer to 60 days these days, (that kind of seems to be the new norm) it allows a financing receivables strategy to ensure you take much less of a hit on your cash flow and working capital.


The triple whammy. That's our own term for what else is happening out there in the Canadian business financing marketplace. Your suppliers slow down, bank financing becomes harder to achieve, and you still want and have the ability to grow your company. Talk about a perfect storm that comes together to challenge your firm in every manner!

One of the reasons that invoice finance is so popular these days is simple that is a ' stable ' source of funding for your firm. What business owner or manager doesnt want a reliable source of funding and working capital .in the current economic environment? That is a basic premise of invoice financing or factoring - the fact that your facility can be reviewed anytime, within pretty well a days time, to be increased based on your needs.

Cost is often a factor that turns off many clients who look at financing receivables. While the cost is higher than traditional bank finance that has to be balance off against access to capital. In trying to present a balanced outlook on invoice finance we also note that you typically have to report more regularly on your business progress - that typically includes monthly reporting on aged receivables, payables, and a balance sheet and income statement snapshot. We don’t think that necessarily is a bad thing though, as many clients tell us that process allows them to understand and run their companies better.

So, if you want to stop that feeling of ' borrowed time ' let a invoice finance firm ' lien ' on your receivables . That immediate uptick in cash flow and working capital should allow for better business performance... with less stress! Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor today on how invoice finance works, for you.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN RECEIVABLES FINANCING EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Financing Sources For Alternative Finance Needs In Canada . Why Asset Based Lending Works

New Sources Of Finance for Challenged and Growth Businesses

Information on financing sources for alternative asset finance in Canada . When traditional doesn’t work!

New financing sources in Canada can be a challenge for firms that are in one of three categories when it comes to alternative finance. They might be a start up, or perhaps they are in hyper growth mode (traditionally banks and certain other institutions don't like hyper growth!), or, finally, the company might be recovering from major challenges. They are in fact in turnaround mode and the faster the better.

Even firms that might be coming off a bad year, with solutions in place do in fact find that new sources of finance are difficult to achieve.

Why is that? Well, forgive us for sounding like father time here, but the word ' credit ' as in ' business credit ' comes for the Latin word ' credo ' which is to ' trust and believe '. And, surprise, surprise, your vendors, or your current bank, or worse yet, your valued suppliers can probably be forgiven for mistrusting a bit after your firm has gone through a challenging period.

So the goal of the Canadian business owner and financial manager is, of course, to reinstate that relationship to its former glory!

That's where asset finance comes in, because your business asset, ie receivables, inventory, equipment, and perhaps real estate allow you to focus on mending that reputation, or loss thereof , you have with our three aforementioned parties .

If it was a perfect world, (apparently its not) the best route would be standard ' traditional' financing as we know it in the Canadian marketplace. That typically comes from a bank, is has great flexibility, rates are low (they are lower than ever these days!) and are easily achieve, if (here it comes ...!) you have solid business creditworthiness. That of course means profits, clean balance sheets, and cash flow and debt ratios that make sense... to the bank.

That is why asset based loans and financing, whether they be bridge loans or straight asset monetization of working capital accounts.

Asset based lending in North America goes back to the early 1900’s. In Canada it has gained significant traction in recent years, simply because specialized non bank asset lenders are comfortable with your business collateral .Although rates are typically ( not always, but typically ! ) higher than the Canadian chartered banks they provide great liquidity for receivables, inventory, fixed assets, and even a real estate component can be thrown into the mix .

If you are not the ' investment grade ‘ credit that is sought by banks and insurance companies then investigate asset based lending financing sources in Canada . Typical advances of A/R and inventory are 90% and 5-80% respectively.

Speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor for alternative asset finance solutions in Canada.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN ALTERNATIVE ASSET BASED 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/financing_sources_alternative_finance_asset_canada.html

Secrets To Growth Finance in Canada . Get Rid Of Business Funding Challenges Once And For All!

Canadian Business Financing



Information on growth finance strategies and tools for successful business funding in Canada



Business funding in Canada. As a manager or business owner growth finance tends to be ' top of mind ' when it comes to your job of being able to identify both the type of funds you need as well as the timing around that challenge.

Growth and yes, even survival in Canada revolves around three key elements, profit, cash, and general cash flows. If you ultimately can't get positive closure on those three issues, simply speaking, your firm won't survive, and we read about those casualties in the Canadian business papers everyday. It's ironic, but even companies that are experiencing some serious challenges can quite often be in growth mode.

The fundamental concept around growth finance is simple - as you sell more you need to build up more inventories, receivables, and probably some measure of fixed assets.

In the case of inventory and A/R you simply need stock on hand and your customers of course want, and often demand credit terms. Some even want better credit terms!

It might not be obvious, but as you grow you automatically become eligible for growth finance - as you pay you obligations in the ordinary course of business and customers pay you , you are in effect getting some measure of business funding - generally though .. NOT ENOUGH!

As your payables increase you have the ability to manage them for greater cash flow - in effect you're stretching your payables or asking your valued suppliers for better / longer terms. However, if suppliers perceive you as unable to pay, or slow pay you might find they are unwilling to assist, and in fact taking the opposite tact of shortening payment terms.

Whether you think business is great ( cash flow, profits, sales ) , or if you're experiencing challenges in any of those areas you cannot lose the fact that you need some measure of supplier finance as well as external business funding .

Many firms that find themselves in a crisis look to a couple time tested tools to accelerate cash flow internally. They do that by monitoring and focusing on sales to inventory and sales to A/R relationships. Managing those two carefully typically can get any company back on track.

Business funding in Canada, for the majority, is done via or chartered banks. But many firms find they might no longer be in a position to either get any business credit, or, as common, the amount of credit they need.

So are there secrets and alternatives to other Canadian business financing alternatives? New capital and cash flow can come into your company from a variety of sources.

They include:

Receivable financing
Asset based lending
Sale leaseback / bridge loan strategies
Tax Credit Monetization
Unsecured cash flow loans

All of these are available from a variety of sources. The trick or challenge rather is determining which one you need, when, and from whom?


Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in determine solutions to growth finance.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN GROWTH 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/growth_finance_business_funding_canada.html






Stan Prokop

Can You Buy Your Competitor Via An Asset Based Lender ? Unique Acquisition Strategies!

Here’s A Great Asset Based Lending Strategy To Finance An Acquisition !

Information on how you can use an asset based lender to buy a competitor via a acquisition finance strategy .. that works!



Ever had the idea to buy a competitor? Even more so have you wondered how this acquisition could possibly be done? One method is to use the service of an asset based lender to complete such a deal.

Even more interesting ... we couldn’t help but catch an article in one of the two leading business dailies in Canada... it said... (To us it screamed!) ‘BUY A COMPANY FOR NO MONEY DOWN! ‘... and this was from one of Canada's leading investment advisors!

The concept here was simply all about ' assets ' and a formula derived from Ben Graham, who is acknowledged as being one of the most prudent and smartest investors ever. (Buffett is a student of Graham... so something there must be working!

The actual formula Graham used to derive this strategy was to take all the current assets of a company, deduct all liabilities, and get a number he called ' net working capital '. If you know a bit about your competitors financial statements you will know this formula is not always going to work ... but if it did... well you have got the makings of a deal!

There is of course one key assumption here which is that all the assets are worth what they say they are worth on the balance sheet. Naturally there has to be some factoring of what they are really worth but that new number can be financed by your asset based lender, allowing you potentially to complete a transaction .

In essence what you have done here is used a finance strategy to finance the collateral in the company.

There are of course many reasons you might wish to acquire a competitor - they include revenue growth, economies of scale, market domination, etc. In many cases you might be aware of a motivated seller, perhaps a firm who is in financial difficulty or who wishes to execute some sort of exit strategy for the owners.

In most cases an asset based lender will have to consider paying out the current lender, which well might be a Canadian chartered bank. Other issues that need to be addressed are the potential profitability of the new firm going forward. Issues that can also help you move the transaction forward are your ability to normalize earnings and assess need for further assets. Also a vendor take back is a great strategy at this time.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you to by or acquire a competitor via an asset based lender acquisition strategy.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN ASSET BASED LENDING AND ACQUISITION FINANCING EXPERTISE


Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Growth Financing Challenges ? Don’t Trade Off Growing Due To A Cash Flow Problem !

Canadian Growth Finance Problems .. and Solutions!


Information on growth financing challenges in Canada . Don’t let a cash flow problem prohibit your company growth!




Growth financing in Canada. It's a harsh reality for many business owners that with new found revenue growth comes a cash flow problem. Knowing why that problem exists and what to do about it is what we're talking about today.

Cash flow goes higher and lower with growth. Simple as that. But why those changes ? That is the key question. It's because your working capital accounts change all the time, every day in fact. Those working capital accounts are receivables, inventory, and your payables on the other side of that balance sheet.

So if there is any one point you can take away here its that as your assets and payables increase your business cash flow goes.... DOWN! It therefore goes without saying (almost) that if your sales go up and your working capital assets such as inventories and A/R stay the same or decrease your working capital cash flows get ... Better!

It’s your ability to either finance, or turnover those working capital accounts that will ultimately make you successful in growth financing and solving any cash flow problem you have.

The big take away here, again, is that you have to watch your receivable and inventory growth. Not all companies have an inventory challenge, such as service Type Company, but pretty well all of us have A/R. One internal way you can address a cash flow and working capital challenge is to slow down payables. As we have pointed out in the past that is a very double edged sword given that you value your supplier and vendor relationships which can often be key to long term success.

Don't forget also that when your sales go down for whatever reason that also has, somewhat ironically a positive effect on your working capital. The trick here is to also reduce some of your expenses as much as you can.

It's also a good tip, over time, to monitor your levels of inventory and A/R in conjunction with sales going up and down. That's because it’s simply a great tool for predicting better or worse cash flow in the coming months based on history.

So is a cash flow problem necessarily a bad thing. Ironically, definitely not. It's all about the reason for that issue, which typically in a good environment is growth.

We've talked a lot about internal issue and knowing when and why a problem might exist. But a better questions form clients is of course ' what solutions exist?! '.

Here the key rule of thumb is to match the right type of financing with the actual problem. To put it even more clearly, finance shorter term working capital with short term cash flow solutions. In this case we're talking about some traditional and not so traditional solutions.

In Canada they included bank lines of credit, receivables financing, working capital facilities, non bank in nature that finance both A/R and inventory, as well as purchase order or supply chain financing. If you have a SRED claim you can even finance that for short term cash flow, as these loans don’t even carry monthly payments!

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor for solutions to growth financing.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN GROWTH FINANCING SOLUTIONS




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Don’t Overlook These 5 Leasing Finance Issues Around Lease Documents In Canada

Don’t Forget These Issues When Leasing Assets In Canada !


Information on leasing finance in Canada and the importance of address key issues within lease documents when financing equipment and other assets.




Leasing finance in Canada. Just how important is the issue of ' lease documents ' when it comes to equipment financing in Canada. When you speak to companies who have encountered what we can diplomatically term as ' issues ' in the past with their lease transactions you just might find that a lot of those issues revolve around key terms and obligations in your transaction.

Let's examine 5 of those key points, with a focus on protecting your rights in the transaction with a fair lease transaction - because at the end of the day also those same issues have to be fair and make sense to your lessor.

We would also point out that many of these issues can be negotiated and that’s important for the Canadian business owner and financial manager to know.

First of all it makes great sense to consider signing one master lease with your leasing company of choice. Why ? If only for the issue of saving time and money , as this type of document addresses once and for all , the terms of all future lease transactions . Larger transactions will tend to always have a ' master lease ' scenario in place anyway given the complexity of a larger transaction. It's not all that complicated, but many firms might want to have their lawyer look the document over once, as it identifies the rights an obligations of both parties and describes the financial terms of the deal.

Second issue today ... warranty. Make sure you understand your warranty rights on any asset you purchase. Many Canadian business owners/ managers confuse, mistakenly, the finance firm as their ' vendor ‘. That is not the case... they are financing the transaction for you, not providing a warranty. It gets very complicated, and somewhat ugly, when businesses withhold payment to their lessor for product defect issues.

In Canada there are two types of leases essentially when you enter into a lease contract - a capital lease ( lease to own ) and an operating lease ( lease to use) . Capital leases typically have what is known as a ' hell or high water ' clause in them which basically means that you agree to make your payments, no matter what!

The third issue to watch out for is the issues of liens and registrations against any asset you purchase. This typically is not a problem is your are purchasing from a legitimate vendor , but leasing finance in Canada also means you can finance used equipment - so its critical that you ensure that you and the lease company have clean title to the asset .

Fourth issue today - taxes. Lease payments in Canada will include the provincial and federal portions of tax due on the monthly payment amount. Don't forget to budget these into your cash flows. This issue brings out a positive advantage of leasing finance in that your taxes are in effect financed, unlike a loan type transaction.

Our final issue today is the issue of use and return requirements. Examine carefully your obligations around the type of condition you must return the asset in when your transaction calls for an asset return to the lessor. And make sure the location and costs involved around that make sense to you the lessee. If you are entering into an operating lease and have the right therefore to extend the transaction or purchase the asset it just makes sense to maintain the asset properly.

Bottom line; don’t forget the ' terms ' part of any leasing finance transaction in Canada. Issues not addressed now will be costly and time consuming later.
Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on assistance with lease documents and issues that protect your firm and enhance the true value of leasing in Canada.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN EQUIPMENT FINANCING EXPERTISE






Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

5 Methods Of Canadian Business Financing In Canada . Which Finance Companies Are For You?

The Money Is Out There – Here’s How ! And Where!


Information on access to Canadian business financing . Which finance companies and loans and services best suit your firm today?





Canadian business financing... It works when you have business owners and financial managers in Canada that know how to be successful with the right type of finance for their company - as well as a lender or institution who wants to share that success with yourself .

For the business owner the reward is growth and profit, for the lender its repayment with a reasonable rate of interest commensurate with credit risk.

When we speak to clients about financing choices its all about ensuring you understand the alternatives. Let's examine 5 of those.

One of the newer methods, relatively speaking, that Canadian firms use to finance growth is the selling of their receivables as they generate sales. This form of financing goes under a number of names: receivable financing, invoice discounting, factoring, etc. By employing this method of finance they immediately generate typically 90% of any sale into direct cash, with the other ten per cent, less financing costs, coming to them when their client pays.

Although there is a strong perception in the Canadian marketplace that this type of financing is expensive. It becomes less expensive when business owners utilize that cash to sell more, take supplier discounts, and purchase more effectively with new found cash. In truth this method of financing, quite frankly, works best when you are partnering with the right finance firm and have the right type of facility in place.

An even lesser known method of Canadian business financing is what is known as purchase order or supply chain financing. This works best when you have legitimate orders from bona fide clients and have a need to be able to pay your supplier significantly in advance of your own firm receiving final payment from your client.

PO and SUPPLY CHAIN finance can really float you through a busy season or time of year.

Smaller firms and retail organizations have a real challenge in financing their firms. This is because they traditionally don’t have the assets that are sought after by banks and other finance firms when it comes to working capital and cash flow financing. So the solution here becomes bridge loans that are typically collateralized by inventory and cash flows. Typically you would supply 3 months of recent bank statements to show inflows and outflows of your business.


80% of all North American businesses employ equipment financing in that it allows you to have up to date assets that won’t become obsolete during the time you need them for production, operations, etc.

Almost anything can be leased and financed, and all credit qualities are eligible based on the creative structuring offered by lessors in Canada.
As a business owner your choice becomes whether you enter into a capital lease or an operating lease, depending on the ultimate disposal of the asset at the end of the lease term.

That method of financing, i.e. lease finance brings us nicely into # 4 in our list of 5 methods of business finance. Here the concept is customer financing - i.e. offering a finance program for your clients when you have a product that can in fact be financed. Setting up a program with a qualified partner allows you to sell more, generate cash flow on the sale immediately, and be perceived by your client as a full service vendor that truly adds vale to their operations.

Finally, don't forget the government SBL loan, which is, bar none, the best available financing for new or established firms with fewer than 5 Million dollars of revenue. Great rates, terms and structures, and a solid solution for financing equipment and leaseholds.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on putting together a package or financing request that properly positions your firm for financing success.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING EXPERTISE






Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Accessing Business Lending In Canada . Making The Right Financial Decisions When Financing A Business

Canadian Business Financing



Information on business lending in Canada . Financing A business comes down to why, how and where!



Financing a business in Canada. Decisions, decisions... decisions! It seems you always have unanswered questions - what type of business lending is best for my firm, what types of finances are available? ... who can we talk to .. and on it goes.

In fact the word ' debt ' keeps coming up when it comes to accessing financial solutions for your company... how much seems to ring a bell.

One of the things that business owners and financial managers often don't think about is the concept of ' fixed costs '. Those costs will always stay the same, no matter if your sales revenues and cash flows go up... or down. When times are great those costs stay the same and your company rises above the tide when it comes to profits, etc. However, if sales and cash flows decline your fixed costs unfortunately don’t fall in tandem.

It's all about leverage, and that becomes the double edged sword in business. That leverage that we associate with fixed costs and debt is risky but at the same time provides greater returns if your company is successful and growing.

We actually break leverage down into two different types - operating and financial. Financial is of course relating back to that debt and the amount we're willing to take on. Operating leverage on the other hand revolves around the amount of fixed costs you undertake.

No mater which type of leverage you’re talking about it always comes back to that balance act of how much is appropriate.

If you are not a public company it becomes a financial decision you make as to taking on debt ... unlike the public company you’re not in a position to go to the shareholders and ask for more equity . At the end of the day most Canadian business owners and financial managers borrow somewhere down the middle - by that we mean they don’t take on onerous debt, , yet they do take on some form and amount of debt .

One of the main decisions that business owners make around accessing business lending is the idea of making more return than the actual rates they are paying for debt. That becomes a challenge is your rates to finance are particularly high, which no doubt relates to your overall credit quality as perceived by lenders when financing a business in Canada. Your lenders, as we have pointed out in the past, DON'T share in the upside - they only want to cover off their risk and return. And if they have sufficient collateral or confidence in your cash flow all the better.

Canadian business owners benefit from leverage by accessing the right amount and type of financing. That includes equipment finances, term loans, bridge loans; asset based lending facilities, securitization facilities, etc. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on business lending in Canada, as it pertains to your firms needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.webpage66.com/business_lending_financing_a_business_canada.html

Business Credit Squeeze ? Rerum Cognoscere Causas ? Better Yet … Solutions !

Canadian Business Financing - Unsqueezing the Squeeze!


Information on business credit and financing solutions in Canada.
Causes and finance remedies for Canadian companies.




Business credit and financing solutions in Canada. We saw a headline that screamed out of a U.S. publication indicating that small and medium sized businesses in the U.S. were in a ' CREDIT SQUEEZE'. And that got us to thinking ... Rerum Cognoscere Causas? Which is simply Latin for ' knowing the cause!

So we're in Canada ... is there a credit squeeze here for the SME (small and medium sized enterprises) sector... and if so, how can your company eliminate the squeeze?!

When it comes to business financing it’s about daily operating cash flows as well as growth financing. How you manage or solicit solutions to those two challenges ultimately will affect the long term success of your business. And without good solutions and information the short term can be quite painful might we add!

As a company in the SME sector in Canada you're vulnerable at a lot of levels... the economy, the crazy things your competitors do and the fact that these days almost any global issues can almost be biting your firm also! So access to working capital and business credit financing is critical.

Many clients we speak to are immediately always focusing on outside external cash flow financing solutions. The reality is that a lot of their problems can be fixed by a focus on cash from their own operations. And the last thing most owners want to do is to focus on equity financing, which at its simplest just reduces your ownership and long term equity potential.

So how do Canadian business owners and financial managers address those internal solutions? We recognize it's easier said than done but it's done by focusing on your collections and payment terms, maximizing solutions around electronic payments and business credit cards, and managing payables and supplier relations.

But getting back to external solutions now, how then can the owner address business credit financing solutions in a manner that makes sense? You do that by identifying which of the three (or perhaps all three) types of financing you need from external sources.

What are those three types of financing? They are:

Fixed financing
Working capital financing
Growth financing


In Canada numerous external solutions exist for all those three types of financing you need to be successful. Those solutions include : Canadian chartered banks, receiving financing facilities, working capital solutions via non bank asset based lines of credit, leasing and sale leaseback solutions, and even tax credit monetization and securitization when those two apply to your firms condition. And remember, under all of those solutions you are not giving up equity.

Don't also forge the government Small business loan program which is a great program for business capital for asset and leaseholds up to a maximum of $ 350,000.00.

So, are we in a credit squeeze in Canada in the SME sector? We'll let the economists and business pundits argue out that one as they always do... instead focus on internal and external solutons that make sense for you, the Canadian business owner and financial manager.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on eliminating that credit squeeze!

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

BUSINESS CREDIT AND FINANCING SOLUTIONS EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Getting Enough? Business Cash Flow Financing!

Are You Managing For Sales Or For Cash Flow And Profits?


Information on business cash flow financing in Canada . Cash management and Financing solutions for Canadian Business


Business cash flow financing. Is your firm getting enough? It's probably just us but we have never met a client who, unlike larger corporations, has just too much ' cash on hand'!

The whole idea of having enough cash flow and working capital is to allow you to have enough liquidity for your daily operating needs while at the same time allowing you to grow your firm.

The challenge therefore becomes how much cash do you need, and where do you get it. (There are only 2 places to get this cash).

If the Canadian business owner and financial manager has a good handle on his or her cash flow needs you're in a position to pay back any secured debt and run your firm.

So what factors in fact determine if you're ' getting enough '? Well, first of all it’s about the level of risk you want to take in running your firm on a daily basis with either just enough cash, OR ACCESS TO CASH, or with a buffer that you're comfortable with.

While your debt payments might be fixed... in fact they probably are, the reality is that there are circumstances that occur to all firms that make your cash inflows fluctuate.

So how can you ensure you have access to capital for short term operating needs? That's the $50,000.00 question. You can of course access bank financing if you qualify for a Canadian chartered bank business credit line, but that might come with commitment fees for unused balances, compensating balance requirements, and the challenge of dealing with the bank when sales and financial performance declines.

We referenced only two sources of business cash flow financing previously. In essence they are first of all internal profits and operations, and secondly external working capital financing. It's as simple as that.

So can the business owner / manager actually accelerate cash, ensuring you’re ' getting enough' from an internal perspective. You sure can!

That can be done by accelerating collections, understanding your ' float time ' re cheque processing, lock box operations, etc.

We actually think there are firms out there they invoice once a month. Nothing could be worse... so invoice your clients as soon as you have earned the right to do that by shipping your products or completing your service delivery.

In some cases you should revisit customer terms and perhaps require deposits for work to be done.

Delaying payments requires a fine line of management thought. You should of course pay creditors to terms, but not before then - stretch them as long as possible without altering vendor relationships which can be valued highly. If you have a sales force compensation plan you could adjust commissions relative to receivables collected, not sales made. We fully realize we've just made an enemy of the sales force by the way, but it’s a cruel world!

Business cash flow financing externally consists of bank lines of credit, working capital facilities that are non bank in nature which secure receivables and inventories, and don forget the new kid on the block, asset based business credit facilities. In some cases the business owner can consider sale lease back or tax credit financing where appropriate.

So, getting enough? If you aren't speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor for assistance on working capital needs for business cash flow financing.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS CASH FLOW FINANCING EXPERTISE





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Could ABL Asset Based Lending Be Your Rude Awakening To Business Credit Line Success?

What's all the commotion about Asset Based Credit Lines?


Information on ABL asset based lending . Why does this unique business credit line facility work when others do not?



An ABL Asset based line of credit. Could this form of financing be the ' rude awakening ' you need when it comes to understanding what type of business credit line is available to your firm?

What many Canadian business owners and financial managers don’t understand is that there are different sources of business lines of credit, and while it might all seem like a blur sometimes its worth sorting through the differences to ensure your firm is financed properly.

Things you'll be considering in this sort of analysis include the rates around line of credit pricing, what type of financial strength is required and the overall risk and benefits associated with any type of financing you might take on for your business.

Asset based lenders in Canada consist of both Canadian and U.S. firms doing business in the Canadian marketplace. They are differentiated by the amount of capital they provide (in some cases unlimited), geographical preferences, and most importantly industry and asset type focus.

The most important thing you can derive from any analysis in determining if ABL finance is right for your firm is to ensure you understand the differences between bank lines of credit and ABL revolving facilities. They are the same, and they are different... in some cases very different.

Why the difference? It comes down to the fact that asset based lenders providing credit lines are not regulated like our Canadian chartered banks. In essence they can do what they want, as long as transactions meet their own risk criteria.

What does that statement in effect translated into then? Simply that there is a lot of flexibility, and probably liquidity around any ABL arrangement you consider. It comes down to the focus on collateral, whereas the bank is focused on ratios, covenants, cash flow formulas, etc. That’s not a bad thing; it’s just ' different '!

The total focus of ABL asset based lending credit lines revolves around the total value of your assets, with typical categories being receivables, inventories, and unencumbered equipment.

How does the ABL lender do this when the bank sometimes cannot? The key to that answer is that proper appraisals and closer reporting of your ongoing situations translates into greater borrowing power for your firms financing needs.

The concept of ' evergreen' is often a true ' rude awakening ' when it comes to the ABL business credit line. Simply speaking it’s that these unique lines of credit don’t have set repayment schedules - they grow as your firm grows, so the concept of a cap at a bank is a significant differentiator.

Oh, and about those qualifications. We can make a broad statement that almost every firm qualified, whether your company is enjoying strong sales growth and profits, or if you're at the other end of the spectrum and have some severe challenges and distress issues. It all comes back to your asset base and its value. To qualify you simply should be able to present proper updated financials and aged lists of receivables, inventory, etc.


In our business and even personal lives rude awakenings are either a good thing, or perhaps not so good. Canadian business owners and financial mangers might well find a positive awakening when it comes to differences and benefits in ABL asset based lending credit lines. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in defining the differences.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN ABL ASSET BASED LENDING EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Your Company Successful And Going Broke? Here’s Why! Business Cash Flow And Working Capital Solutions For Canadian Business

Measuring and Solving Challenges of Business Cash Flows


Information on business cash flow in the Canadian financing arena . Measuring and solving working capital challenges .



Business cash flow. It's the reason that thousands of Canadian businesses, everyday, must feel like they have a combined feeling of ' going broke ' while seeing their sales rise at the same time.

It's very wrong of course to assume that profits out of those sales assumes positive working capital equals profits. That is absolutely not the case.

Yes, over the long run those profits will become cash, but what about the gap? That’s that lag in between that is giving our business owners that ' broke ' feeling!

Business cash flow is in fact the ' lubricant ' that keeps your company running. You get that working capital from two sources, internally, i.e. how you run your company and manage your current assets, and externally, via commercial lending facilities. We suppose that you could also sell assets to generate cash, but that’s not really why businesses go into business, right?!

Your company balance sheet changes everyday, At the same time though its important to regularly take a look at that balance sheet as a measurement of your ability to run your company . Simply speaking it’s a way of both you as owner or manager, or any of your lenders for example, to determine if you're solvent and able to meet your commitments.

Borrowing properly and putting cash flow to good use is of course your goal for a successful business operation it’s about borrowing the right way, from the right parties, in a manner that ensures you are not in a liquidity trap that so many business owners and financial managers find themselves in.

One key way you can borrow successfully is to match short term debt with the right assets. A great example of this is a business line of credit or receivable finance and inventory finance facility. In this manner you're taking current assets and ensuring they are supported with a solid short term debt solution. When it comes to financing long term assets you should not be doing that by collateralizing your current assets. It's all about the matching!

Let's use a quick example of where things can go wrong... it comes back to that ' business is great' but why do we feel like we're going under' feeling! Let's say a company had a significant receivable base and put in a business line of credit facility. A need perhaps develops for some new assets to support the growth of the business so part of the line of credit funds are used to finance equipment assets.

Where things go awry is when sales go down or flat , funds are used to reduce payables or temporary operating losses, and the company finds themselves ' over advanced ' . This is right about the time when creditors get worried, both suppliers and your lenders. Bottom line, it’s a perfect storm of cash flow ugliness.

To avoid that ' broke feeling' it’s a question of matching debt properly and using cash flow via solutions such as leasing or term loans for asset acquisition.

Numerous short and long term solutions are available to the Canadian business owner when it comes to business cash flow solutions. Short term liquidity comes from bank lines; receivable financing facilities asset based lending lines of credit, and monetization of tax credits.

Speak to at trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in being successful... not ‘going broke’!

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS CASH FLOW FINANCING EXPERTISE




Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Equipment Leasing Documentation. Caveat Emptor When It Comes To Lease Financing And Asset Leases In Canada … Unless…!

Why Are Lease Documents So Important In Canadian Equipment Finance



Information on equipment leasing documentation in Canada . Lease financing has strong do’s and don’t when it comes to Asset leases .



Equipment leasing in Canada. Ever made a big mistake in lease financing of asset leases in Canada? We're going to take a wild guess and say that mistake may have in fact involved the documentation on your transaction.

The actual ' papering ' and documentation around your lease is a lot more important than many Canadian business owners and financial managers might think.

Let's take a short, but much needed walk down the path of helping you sort out the pitfalls of entering into the wrong type of lease issues. The reality is there is a standard process pretty well around every asset lease you enter into.

We're assuming you have picked the type of lease you feel best suits your transaction - that might be a capital, operating, or short term rental transaction. The lease process simply involves ensuring that the purchase of the asset is properly done by the lessor and your vendor. In some cases it might be that you are the vendor, that situation of course revolving around a ' sale leaseback ' scenario.

The whole process is completed by payment for the asset by the lessor, execution of the documents and commencement of payments.

That all sounds pretty basic right? The reality though is that there are three types of lease financing companies in Canada. Their type of operation depends really on their size and market focus. In general they can be called: small / medium and large ticket firms. And depending on which type of firm you are dealing with a whole separate level of documentation and issues need to be address.

In today’s case small is good, that’s because small ticket equipment leasing in Canada is simple and efficient. It generally consists of a one of two page lease document and covers assets under 25k size. More often than not the simple lease document covers off the rights and obligations of each party - That’s you and the lessor, as well as incorporating your acceptance of the asset for lease commencement. Nothing could be simpler.

When we travel up the lease ' food chain' and enter the mid ticket asset leases category we're talking about a different kettle of fish. Oh and by the way, general this category caps out at 500k to 1 Million dollars, depending on whom you are talking to.

Many firms you deal with in this ' mid ' ticket area prefer a single Master lease, at which point individual schedules can be added later. As challenging as it might seem some time we do in fact recommend that to clients because it simply becomes much easier to add other leases down the road - in effect you have already agreed to all the key terms and conditions and don't have to renegotiate them.

Is there a lawyer in the house? We're referring to the fact that when it comes to large ticket transactions you can assume a very ' custom' approach. This is not cookie cutter leasing and we typically see both the lessor and your firm having lawyers negotiate some of the critical terms of the lease , for the obvious reason that its often a multi million dollar transaction that presents potential risk to both the lessor and you the lessee.

Don't underestimate the need to understand the type of lease you are entering into and the equipment leasing documentation that comes with that transaction. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor for help in lease financing in Canada.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN EQUIPMENT LEASING 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/equipment_leasing_lease_financing_asset_leases.html

Exactly When Does Your Company Need A Receivable Finance Solution? Financing Working Capital Is About Timing!

Let A/R Finance Get Your Receivables In Overtime Mode!


Information on receivable financing and the proper methods to look at when financing working capital in Canada




Have we got a story for you! There's an interesting old story /legend about a guy named Bernard E. Smith who at the time of the 1929 crash of Wall Street crash simply went around and saw what companies were building up receivables and inventory and maybe not selling enough either . We're not really focusing on ‘sales ' today though. The bottom line on this legend is that by simple observation of build up in receivables (and inventories) he became somewhat of a predictor for companies that would fail.

Receivable finance in Canada. Exactly when does your firm know it needs something new when it comes to financing working capital and understanding what solutions are available and when ?

If you have a strong handle on receivables in your company you're in a position to know a lot about your cash flow and working capital. When we look at what our buddy Bernard Smith was doing he probably would have profited even more (he was ' shorting 'those companies ) if he had simply had solid access to an analysis of any company’s' A/R position.

When you truly understand the relationship between sales and properly managed accounts receivable you're a more effective business manager or owner. That’s because you can only run so long on the concept of sales, and what one analyst called ' borrowing from the future '.

Financing working capital is need when your receivables rise substantially over your sales growth. Poor collections and liberal credit terms are some other causes, and those require separate measures and actions. But today we're focusing on simple ' growth ‘.

So, two things. How can you track such a phenomenon, and secondly what is one solid solution for receivable financing in Canada?

When it comes to tracking set up a very simple chart or spreadsheet around sales / receivables, and inventory. Simply track the actual growth rates over a specific period, say quarterly, even monthly if you want. (We’d say annually was a bit too late!)

If you find that sales are growing at 15% for example, and A/R and inventories are growing at 35% you will quickly start to feel a working capital and cash flow shortage. It's as simple as that!

So if you can’t get support from a bank in Canada on your A/R and growth then perhaps its time to look at another option. That option is known as receivable finance, or invoice discounting is another term. You might not be able to get additional financing because you're growing to fast, or in some cases you simply can’t meet bank criteria.

That's when it comes time to rethink your Canadian business financing strategy. The cost of factoring is often a consideration or concern , and business owners can address this by effectively understand how they can use the capital generated from invoice financing .If you have good gross margins you're even in better shape when it comes to assessing the cost of receivable finance.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in both monitoring working capital needs and assessing quality solutions for business cash flow and growth.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN RECEIVABLE 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/receivable_finance_financing_working_capital.html

Debt Financing And Business Liquidity For Canadian Companies

Canadian business financing debt solutions – Is Now The Time?


Information on debt financing and business liquidity solutions for Canadian companies . Assessing and managing debt load.



Debt financing for your Canadian business. Should you... and when? That’s the key questions the Canadian business owner and financial manager takes a look at when assessing business liquidity.

No one is going to argue that the focus should not be on profits, but the reality is that if you have too much business debt, or aren’t properly monetizing current assets you're going to be in a situation where the last of your concerns are going to be profits, you'll in fact be fighting for business survival.

Notwithstanding the type of debt your company needs it’s in fact the level of that debt that is going to be the key focus of any financing partner you're looking at. That partner’s focus is very clear: getting repaid!

So are there in fact some ways you as a business owner or manager can determine what the right amount of debt is? Ultimately it's a case of ensuring that business liquidity is there to properly augment future business success.

We point out to clients that there is not magic formula for the right amount of debt; there are some industry standards though and that relates to the fact that different industries and business models require different amounts, and types, of debt financing.

The average business owner thinks of ' the bank ' when it comes to measuring debt. They are of course the masters of ratios (we have always preferred to call them relationships) and the covenants that come with those ratios. We're also not necessarily in agreement if some of those rations and calculations accurately reflect whats going on!?

Case in point? The proverbial ' current ratio ' which many bankers and lenders focus on as a key measurement of debt and business liquidity. By going to your balance sheet and taking current assets and dividing them by current liabilities we're told that a 2:1 ratio is generally desirable, and that higher is better. But our point? It's simply this in fact might be a poor measurement if receivables and inventories are growing... BUT NOT TURNING!

Debt financing in Canada brings interest repayment. That's where interest coverage comes in - you want to be in a position to generate enough positive cash flow, at a minimum, to repay that debt. The quick formula if net income plus deprecation divided by interest expense. Here to the bankers tell us that 1:25 to 1 is a desired ratio that reflects positive business liquidity.

The total debt you carry in relation to your equity in the company is a very valid discussion point when it comes to your ability to achieve the amount of debt financing you need. And how you use that borrowed money, via leverage, is also key.

So whats our take away today when it comes to accessing the right amount of debt via business liquidity solutions Simply that you do need to understand how debt financing is score carded , by your lenders and yourself as an owner .
Using debt properly won’t put you in a cash crunch and will allow you to grow your business.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on sourcing debt financing that makes sense for your business liquidity needs. That might include bank debt, cash flow loans, equipment financing, subordinated debt, or merger and acquisition financing. It's score carding and measuring that’s the trick!

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN DEBT FINANCING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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