Canadian Business Financing - 7 Park Avenue Financial: July 2017

Monday, July 31, 2017

Purchase Order Financing : A Canadian Business Financing Solution

It’s Not Your Imagination – Purchase Order Financing & Contract Finance Really Exist

OVERVIEW – Information on purchase order financing and how it is an alternative financing for Canadian firms with large new orders or contracts which lead to revenue growth and profits

Purchase Order Financing – Is it your solution to growth and working capital challenges? Canadian business owners and financial managers are always challenged when they are required to fulfill customer orders or new contracts where pre payment of a significant amount of goods is required to ultimately complete a large order or contract. Many times these new orders or contracts represent the potential start to a large relationship that has the ability to grow large revenues and profits for your Canadian firm.

Is there a solution? One that you might want to consider is purchase order financing. Under this type of financing, (also referred to as ‘P.O.Financing ‘) payment by the finance firm is made directly to your suppliers for your order or contract.

This allows you to complete the order, generate receivables from that order, and of course collect from your customer. The financing charge is typically in the 3% range, so there needs to be a clear indication that your firm has the gross margins to support an additional cost in the 3% range. Therefore firms with higher gross margins are great candidates for purchase order financing, and they are less so if they are in a low margin commodity type business. It’s all about the gross margin!

It is not hard to imagine why suppliers are asking for upfront payment. The typical reasons that we hear from our customers is that they:

• have exceeded the suppliers authorized credit limit for their firm
• the supplier is oversees and does not want to ship or commit capital to a firm in another country
• Your firm if new and has limited financial information or financial wherewithal to arrange financing of such magnitude

Remember also that your firm has what is known as a cash conversion cycle ( every firm has one ) There is a large of often 2-3 month from the time you receive orders, build and ship inventory or product, and then wait 30 days ( or longer!) to collect from your customer . Purchase order financing is a solid solution to your cash conversion cycle.

In putting together a purchase order financing facility we stress to clients that this is very much an alternative financing scenario, but it is clearly one that offers you a solution that traditional Canadian banking or lending would not offer.
Therefore your firm should be able to ensure that you can demonstrate the viability of your customer and that you can fulfill the order or contract.

One of the other advantages of purchase order financing is simply that from start to finish it can be set up in approximately 14-21 business days, assuming your full co operation on applications forms, backup info, etc. Most Canadian business people recognize that financing of a certain size in a traditional banking or term lending environment might take significantly long to complete.

In summary, purchase order financing is a unique niche within the area of business financing. If you are new, or not knowledgeable about this type of financing speak to a credible and experienced and trusted business advisor who will guide you through key areas of P.O. Financing including such things as minimum amounts that can be financed, credit application information, and the standard industry fees / rates.

7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

7 Park Avenue Financial

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

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

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

Stan Prokop

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Equipment Finance – Sale and Leaseback Solutions Canada

You Probably Want To Know About This Under Used Asset Refinance Strategy

OVERVIEW – Information on the asset refinancing strategy known as the sale lease back solution . The sale leaseback strategy, when properly implemented allows owners/mgrs to access valuable cash flow while maintaining control of key business assets

Equipment Finance is one of the most popular and widely used financing strategies used by Canadian business owners and financial managers. It is a unique financing opportunity because it is kind of the opposite of a normal lease financing strategy. Why is that? Normally your firm has the need for equipment, and has cash flow and working capital to make the payment.

In a sale and leaseback financing the opposite is true. You have equipment, it’s paid for, and the capital is of course tied up in the fixed asset account of your balance sheet. How can you unlock that capital and put it to work to generate sales and profits? The answer is the sale leaseback strategy.

You should consider a sale leaseback strategy when you have a need to improve your liquidity. What is the sale leaseback – very simply speaking it’s the re financing of equipment you own under a lease strategy, so it is not a loan per se. There is one key accounting issue that we should point out though, and it’s simply that if you refinance that equipment and the financing is more than you are carrying the asset for on your balance sheet (you have depreciated the asset over time) then the excess you receive over book value might be taxed as a profit. Bottom line, talk to you accountant on that point.

Implementing a sale leaseback strategy for your Canadian firm is easy – along with the normal business lease application you will need to generate a bill of sale to the lease company that transfers title back to them and title will once again revert back to your firm when the lease is repaid.

Depending on the size of your transaction, or the number of assets involved it might be advisable to get an appraisal , in fact one might ever be a requirement, as opposed to a ‘ nice to have ‘. We point out to clients that often work in your favor as it gives you a sense of what the true value is of the equipment and it might increase the amount you receive under the sale and leaseback strategy.

Another benefit of a sale leaseback strategy is that it potentially will make your balance sheet look better. In many cases your current ratio improves because you use the funds to reduce payables. You are more liquid and can use funds for such things as buying more inventories and taking discounts for prompt payment

In summary, a sale leaseback strategy is a great way to improve working capital and your balance sheet. Speak to a trusted and credible leasing advisor and determine if you can take advantage of those benefits

7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Thursday, July 27, 2017

Your Working Capital Prospects On A Train To Nowhere? Here’s The Fix

Business Cash Flow Prospects Looking Hellish?

Here’s Some Solutions

OVERVIEW – Information on working capital financing . The ability to access cash flow and short to intermediate financing solutions is critical to growing and running your business

Working capital financing challenges sometimes have business owners/mgrs feeling they're on the proverbial train to nowhere. - What then are the issues and are their traditional or new innovative financing strategies available? Let's dig in.

The irony of the business owners concern is, many times, that business is great. We hate getting technical with clients, but finance has a term called 'sustainable growth '- very simply put it's the growth rate your firm can achieve without increasing leverage, or the amount of debt to equity in your firm. It's calculated as follows:

ROE X (1-dividends paid out)

ROE is of course return on equity, the amount of net income at the end of the year as a percentage of your firm's net worth.

Perhaps we have surprised some business owners by telling them the exact day that they will have to stop growing based on their inability or desire to borrow!

Anyway, our point is not that, it's simply that at a certain point you cannot grow your business any more without debt. No one likes taking on too much debt.

A better solution? An asset based working capital facility. This type of facility adds no additional debt to your firm but gives you maximum liquidity for receivables, inventory, and even equipment you already own.

So, we promise, no more technical financial discussion lets discuss the financing you need and the challenges you have. As we stated it is ironic that many times the stress of managing working capital is related to success - you have new orders, contracts, the need to build up inventory, or perhaps you have granted special payment terms to new or existing customers.

At the same time your firm has its own obligations to suppliers and term creditors such as the bank or equipment lenders, etc.

We can say that the problem is very obvious when you have suppliers that want to get paid either up front or in 30 days, but you have inventory buildup needs and your customers are paying you in closer to 60 days, despite your terms of 30 days.

The traditional solutions are always too obvious, Canadian chartered banks for term loans or operating facilities, or even consideration to giving up some equity in your ownership.

Those are solutions that are either desirable by many of our clients. The reality? Financial conditions and lack of collateral prohibit in many cases traditional financing.

Therefore those nontraditional, but getting less nontraditional solutions look more and more attractive every day. By sacrificing one of two points of gross margin true working capital asset based lending facilities can provide you with all the cash flow you need when it comes to financing inventory at aggressive loan to value, 90% of receivables, and , as we said in some cases equipment and even purchase orders .

So what is the final effect of a true working capital facility - it's financially much better than taking on term debt or selling equity ownership, etc. We have just shown you that by maximizing a true working capital facility you have increased sales, increased profits, and have not taken on additional debt or given away any portion of your equity stake.

Speak to a trusted, experienced, and credible business financing advisor for more information on how a true working capital asset based lending facility can help your Canadian firm grow sales and profits.

7 Park Avenue Financial :

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Asset Based Lines Of Credit : Perfectly Matching Your Business Finance Needs?

Asset based Lines of Credit –

Canada’s Newest Business Financing Option!

OVERVIEW – Information on asset based lines of credit in Canada. This relatively newer business finance options allows companies to achieve revolving credit lines that are non bank in nature – they are suitable for fast growing companies and firms that have challenges in accessing traditional bank capital

An asset based line of credit is a newer business financing tool / solution that owners/financial mgrs keep hearing about. And they want more info - so let's dig in.

Similar to other forms of business financing that are newer and not yet in fullest use in Canada asset based financing, also called ' ABL ' financing evolves from the U.S. and the U.K. . . . The industry originally started as a simply 'factoring 'or receivable finance arrangement.

What asset based lending does is to take that basic concept of factoring and include all your other ' assets ', which traditionally are inventory, equipment, and in some cases the actual purchase orders and contracts that your firm receives and wishes to fulfill.

When we sit down with our customers and they ask us for information on asset based lending we find ourselves often explaining right out of the gate that asset based lending is not a ' lending of last resort '. Most of our customers are surprised to hear that some of the largest corporations in Canada and the U.S. finance their business through asset based lending.

The fact that you as a Canadian business owner can leverage not only your receivables for liquidity, but your inventory, contracts, and equipment and real estate naturally brings true liquidity to the table.

Many customers we work with immediately see asset based financing as a major competitive advantage, enabling them to improve relations with suppliers and grow sales with new or existing customers.

In some instances we have pointed out to clients that our best financing solution for a merger or acquisition scenario is an asset based lending arrangement as it maximizes the true asset and capital power of both firms.

In 2008 and 2009 Canada, like many other countries, or in fact all the world experienced a major liquidity crisis. As banks and independent finance companies pulled back on business line of credit, not always because they wanted to, but because they had to, asset based lending continue to offer more liquidity to customers who were working capital and cash flow challenged.

Naturally as many Canadian firms had balance sheet and income statement erosion, (I.E. financial losses) the challenge of what one could call ' traditional ' financing became even greater.

Many of our customers scrambled to get their balance sheets in order, as for the first time in May years loan covenants were in breach, etc.
We don't want to say that the banks and other large finance firms in Canada let Canadian business owners down, but certainly many times it felt like that, and the welcome comfort of an asset based lending arrangement saved the day for many a firm of all sizes .

Bottom line? Asset based lending has risen to the top of the pile with respect to a robust full financing options for Canadian firms looking for financing for a combo of one or all of receivables, inventory, equipment, real estate, and contracts .

Speak with a credible, experienced and trusted advisor in asset based lending to determine if it's your firms 'holy grail 'of Canadian financing!

7 Park Avenue Financial :

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Working Capital Financing : Study Finds That ….. Your Business Needs It!

Brace Yourself ! Working Capital Financing & Cash Flow Solutions You Can Actually Access

OVERVIEW –Information on working capital financing alternatives for business owners and financial mgrs. The ability to tap successfully into either traditional or alternative finance sources is key to long term success

Working capital financing alternatives are necessary to finance your growth... or if your not growth obsessed just your survival. As our ' study' says - your business needs it. Let's dig in.

Expansion of your business, via increased sales, new order, contracts etc always demands more cash. There are traditional and nontraditional ways for you to achieve business financing success. And quite honestly our clients are realizing that many non traditional forms of working capital are fact become very traditional based on new alternatives available to finance your business.
Cash flow and working capital is being achieved more and more today by financing strategies that were either unheard of, non-existent, or frowned upon in previous years.

Let's recap some of those traditional and non- traditional sources of financing. If you feel you need assistance to understand the wide variety of solutions available for your firm we strongly recommend that you talk to an experienced, trusted, and credible business financing advisor to ensure you have choices.

Those alternatives:

A/R financing

Sr&ed tax credit bridge loans

PO / Contract financing

Non bank full business line of credit facilities

Bottom line? Therefore creativity and access to capital become a priority one for the business owner to get working capital.

We're told that banks are lending again. If you believe that (sometimes we're not quite sure!) that it is very important to focus on business bankers who are actively and aggressively looking for your business.
Bank financing is one of the lease expensive financing areas, but of course it comes with loan covenants, ratios, and personal guarantees. Those very issues are why many Canadian business owners prefer to consider non bank and independent finance company options.

When it comes to banks we'll mention also not to forget the CSBF loan which in our opinion is, bar none, the best business financing in Canada for companies with revenues fewer than 5 Million dollars. (Also called the Govt Small Business Guaranteed Loan program)

As a business owner you can also consider putting new permanent capital into your firm via your own saving, or a partnership with an associate or strategic partner - i.e. supplier.

We also wish to point out that working capital is somewhat of a generic term, and means many things to many people. The text book tells us that if you take your current assets and subtract your current liabilities you have the magic 'working capital 'number.
That's great but the actual number of ratio you get has no real meaning to you. The solution is simply analyzing your receivable turnover, and your inventory turnover in conjunction with your accounts payable demands.

The textbook calls this your cash conversion cycle - but it bring real meaning to your day to day financing needs as it will show you how long it takes for one dollar to flow through your company from order to cash .

At that point you can consider various strategies to improve cash flow based on your operating cycle of collections, inventory on hand, and supplier terms of payment.

Working capital - it's important, it's available - talk to an expert and understand your cash flow options.

7 Park Avenue Financial :

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Monday, July 24, 2017

Commercial Mortgage Financing: Your How To For Owner Occupied Finance !

Commercial Mortgage Financing For Your Company? This Info Is Your Gamechanger On Finance Success

OVERVIEW – Information on commercial mortgage financing in Canada. The ability to finance a real estate asset has numerous benefits for Canadian business owners

Commercial Mortgage Financing is a challenge , commented one of our clients recently commented. We certainly agree, but there are solutions, options, and strategies for the Canadian business owner and financial manager who invest time to investigate the proper commercial mortgage financing alternative for their Canadian business. Let's dig in!

The 2008 and 2009 financial crisis, (worldwide by the way!) affected every aspect of financing. Many financial people still believe the commercial real estate financing still has the ability to become more problematic. Only time will tell on that one, but in the meantime, if you are properly prepared, and you know which solution you need there are still some great alternatives for Canadian business owners. In the context of our article we are discussing owner occupied commercial real estate.

When clients come to us to discuss their commercial mortgage financing needs they have some very specific needs that can neatly be put into a couple categories -

1. They wish to purchase a building versus their current ' lease ' arrangements

2. They wish to re finance their current premises

3. They wish to re do a first, or get a 2nd commercial mortgage to undertake leasehold improvements, expansion, or finally - to use the additional funds for working capital , cash flow, and other forms of possible debt repayment .

For the last several years, prior to the current challenging environment much transaction could be financed at greater than 65% LTV - By LTV we mean of course loan to value, i.e. how much you can finance against the appraised value of the property.

We are happy to point out that there are some circumstances in which financing for up to 90% LTV, in some cases 100% still exist, but they are clearly the rarity, not the norm.

The greater equity or down payment requirements of course put additional challenges to the Canadian business owner who must give up that equity or alternatively make a greater down payment.

While we find that many of our clients are never totally familiar with all their business financing options we can also state they are even less familiar with their commercial mortgage financing options on their business properties.

That is where it is absolutely recommended that they work with a trusted advisor who had credibility, experience and a track record in this area. Planning also helps by the way, and we encourage the customers who come to us to allow 30-60 days for a typical commercial financing from the point that they walk in our door.

Key information required to assess the best Canadian commercial mortgage financing alternative is the facility description and any appraisal, as well as your financial statements. We find it is of great value to ensure these statements accurately reflect your ability to pay back the new financing.

Therefore cash flow coverage, interest coverage, etc are all key parts of the equation. Naturally if you are leasing premises and are going to an owner occupied facility which you are financing the lease costs you are paying now factor positively into that equation.

There are currently some very solid commercial mortgage financing alternatives, for both first and second mortgages. Each business owner has different focus on their ' hot points ' , whether that be loan to value, simply getting approved, ensuring the amortization is long enough, or even flexibility to pre pay or re finance .

Is it ' easy ' to get commercial mortgage financing in Canada? We would say no, is it possible and very achievable with the right data and advisor - absolutely. The right financing will only enhance your owner occupied facility and ensure you are building business or personal equity.

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '