WELCOME !

Thanks for dropping in for some hopefully great business info and on occasion some hopefully not too sarcastic comments on the state of Business Financing in Canada and what we are doing about it !

In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.

Every day we strive to consistently deliver business financing that you feel meets the needs of your business. If you believe as we do that financing solutions and alternatives exist for your firm we want to talk to you. Our purpose is simple: we want to deliver the best business finance solutions for your company.



Showing posts with label business finance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label business finance. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Confused About Canadian Working Capital Finance ? Cash Flow Financing Techniques That Work !














Financing Of Working Capital – Here’s How !



Information on Canadian working capital finance . What are solid real world solutions to financing and cash flow challenges that businesses face every day


Clear answers... no, even better, clear real world solutions. That’s what Canadian business is looking for in working capital finance . And that type of financing and cash flow solutions has been tough to come by over the last several years.

Let’s examine why your understanding of working capital and your ability to measure the need and the solution is as critical as ever in the competitive environment you fight every day.

Let's focus on some of the hard facts first. If you don’t have working capital key issues such as payrolls, loan and lease payments, inventory purchases, etc can become big issues pretty quickly!

So how can you change assets and sales into the financing of cash flow? It's a one word answer - monetization! You need to use a razor sharp focus on monetizing (i.e. changing!) receivables, inventory, and sales into working capital to address those key issues we just mentioned above.

The better you do this you will find the better the patients health will be and that patient is of course your company.
Canadian business owners and financial managers know that their balance sheet and income statement are related. Today we're focusing mostly on the balance sheet - The amount and relationships between those current assets such as A/R, inventory, and payables can let you zero in real quickly on what some of the problems might be. (We won't forget telling you about those solutions also!).

Yes, you do need positive working capital to ' stay healthy ' from a working capital and cash flow perspective. And talk about a balance act, if you are growing too quickly your investment in A/R and inventory hinders cash flow, and if sales are shrinking then your receivables shrinks also.

So, we've done the usual pretty good job (we think) of telling you what your problems are. But that’s not why you came here, right? Let’s address solutions.

Are there in fact real solutions that allow you to fix today’s financing of cash flow challenges, and at the same time address these issues in a long term manner . Here's the good news. There are.

We tend to review 6 major methods of addressing your working capital challenges
.

They are :

Asset Based Lending Facilities

Working Capital Lines

A/R Finance

Inventory & Purchase Finance

Cash Flow Term Loans

Merchant Advance Loans ( Retailers )


And, guess what? Almost all of these solutions are non bank independent finance company solutions! We bet you did not know that?

All of these solutions have different levels of criteria for approval and success. Some are size based, and some are viewed as alternative, but boy do they work! Pricing is a factor also, and each of those solutions brings a different level of financing cost to the table.

If you want to investigate any of our 6 proposed solutions to both immediately and from a long term perspective fix your financing and cash flow issues seek a trusted, credible and experienced business financing advisor. Those solutions are just around the corner.


Click here for 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
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

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com



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


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Thursday, December 28, 2017

Secured Lending in Canada

















There are various types of secured lending in the Canadian business environment. Let's examine some of those secured loans and discuss some of their characteristics.

When most business owners or financial managers think of secured lending they are thinking in terms of their operating loans or operating lines of credit, sometimes called ' revolvers' in finance language.

These loans are used to financing working capital, primarily receivables and inventory. In taking and registering this security the bank or some similar financial institution will take an assignment of these 'liquid assets' of the company. On occasion customers will hear the term ' demand loan ' and we are in effect talking about the same thing.

How does the bank or other institution secure the loan? They register what is known as a General Security Agreement, commonly called a 'GSA 'against the business. In determining their security and overall all 'credit limit' with the customer they usually agree to advance against 75% of all good receivables, and some component of inventory. We can, as a general rule, say that banks don't really like inventory - simply because they aren't set up to liquidate on it when they have to.

If everything goes well that is as much as the business owner really needs to know. The loan is secured, the bank registers a public security against the company, and the company has access to working capital.

How does the Secured Lender realize on the security? Again, we are talking about the worst case scenario when a bank has determined it needs to 'call the loan ', terminology most business owners know too well but hope they never have to live through. The bank is in effect, at that time, attempting to crystallize on its loan. In securing the loan we spoke of the bank or other lending institution taking an assignment of the assets. Now that the loan has been called an actual assignment is enforced - customers are notified by the bank and monies are collected by the bank to reduce the loan outstanding. The bank now finds itself in a position of having to deal with the inventory they did not want to deal with, and we typically find that the inventory is directed to be sold by an auctioneer or salvage firm, who acts as a temporary agent for the bank.

When loans are enforced in such a manner the results are usually disastrous for the customer and have a major impact on the company's ability to go forward.

Lenders securities agreements in Canada are all registered under Canada's Person Property Security Act, and are in effect public knowledge for those that wish to investigate secured dealings. This process is very similar to the UNIFORM COMMERCIAL CODE (UCC) that exists in the U.S., and in fact the security legislation in Canada was very closely model to the U.S. way of secured lending notification.

There are other forms of secured lending Vis Vis equipment, debentures, and security is generally handled in the same manner re: registration, etc.


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

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


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


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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

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
















Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3642236

Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Top 4 Most Overlooked Benefits of Leasing of Equipment As a Business Finance Strategy












Information on four key benefits with respect to leasing of equipment as part of your overall business finance strategy in Canada. How lease financing benefits can help you reduce and overcome capital acquisition risk and challenges. Make lease financing work for your firm!



Most Canadian owners and business managers wouldn't think of always paying cash for equipment and other capital acquisition needs. They also can't imagine, in the current economic climate, paying cash for everything. Whether you are in an industry that is highly capital intensive, or if you simply on occasion need to upgrade or purchase new equipment the leasing of equipment should be considered as an effective overall financing strategy for your company

Naturally no form of business financing in Canada could be considered perfect and met absolutely every one of your needs, but let's examine what are considered to be normally the top four benefits of equipment leasing. Naturally you want to ensure you are dealing with the right type of lease firm and you have also carefully examined your rights and obligations under the business lease.

Anyway, benefit #1- Flexibility. The reality is that working with the right lease partner firm should provide you with the flexibility you want in your transaction. Flexibility is of course a broad term, but we are basically referring to the type of lease that works best - for your firm! Not everyone else's. That flexibility comes in the form of low or no down payment, monthly payment structuring options ( here are possibilities abound!), balance sheet optics around the amount of debt you can carry without getting your bank offside. Flexibility also comes in the form of the ability to return the equipment or extend the lease for a pre agreed period of time.

Benefit # 2 might well be called Cost efficient. The last thing you want to be doing is getting your firm locked into a long term lease on a depreciating asset - and the reason you lease financed the equipment in the first place is that you as a Canadian business owner and financial manager recognize that the equipment ultimately will probably have no value after its economic life is completed.

If the business world was slow moving and predicable you would never have to worry about competition, changing technology, etc- however things don't work that way and as your needs change over time you can using equipment financing as the tool to address those needs.

Benefit 3- Tax benefits! We hate getting into long accounting and financial statement dissertations when we are lease financing info with clients, but the reality is that leasing of equipment as a business finance strategy has accounting and tax benefits re write off strategies around your payments.

Our final focused major benefit is simply Cash flow
conservation. It's tough enough in today's business environment to achieve positive working capital and cash flow for daily and long term needs. Utilizing lease financing as a tool to minimize cash outlay and reduced down payment requirements makes total sense. Choosing an off balance sheet operating lease strategy will also ensure your ratios and debt covenants stay intact.

In summary, as we stated, no overall business financing strategy works perfectly for all companies in all industries. But leasing of equipment has significant benefits that clearly outweigh other options such as purchasing for cash, entering into long term loans, etc.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced lease financing advisor to ensure you can take advantages of the 4 key benefits we outlined.

Stan Prokop is founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial -



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





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5189939

Saturday, April 15, 2017

Business Finance Needs : Check Out Asset Financing Credit Facilities








We’re Predicting Love At First Sight For This Canadian Business Financing Solution



Information on ' ABL ' asset financing credit facilities in Canada. It's time business owners & mgr's who can't access traditional bank credit lines check out this Canadian business finance  financing solution





Business finance
solutions are never 100% perfect all the time, and of course making a prediction is a sometimes risky scenario, potentially damaging to your credibility, but we're quite confident in saying that Canadian business owners will recognize non bank asset financing as credit facilities for business finance loans to be the best thing they ever heard of when it comes to financing their business. In fact, we're predicting a potential ' love at first sight ‘! Let's dig in.

Frankly we're probably not exactly going out and making a stretch comment because, hundreds if not thousands of Canadian firms are investigating and utilizing this type of financing. You just may not have heard of it yet.
As the Canadian business economy turns itself around going most of our clients are finally focused on growth again .But how is that growth to be financed , since lending standards and criteria at institutions such as the banks don’t appear to have been liberalized at the same pace that your company hopes to grow !

That’s where our trend prediction comes in. Asset based lending focuses on your assets and growth opportunities - it doesn’t focus on ratios, tangible equity in your company, covenants, cash flow coverage, etc, etc, etc! Are we forgetting the dreaded ' personal guarantee’?

So you are picking up on the opportunity, let’s see how things work. Asset based lenders keep it simple, they lend a very high value against your ongoing assets. What are the typical assets lent against - you can almost guess what they are. They are receivables, inventory, unencumbered equipment and real estate if in fact there's a real estate equation in your company's assets.

The big mystery around asset based lending in Canada, based on conversations with our clients, is that business owners don’t really know or understand who these firms are. So we'll tell you.

They are specialized firms, both Canadian and U.S. based, that focus solely on providing credit facilities and business finance loans with your assets as security. They take the same security as a Canadian chartered bank would, and you manage your facility on a day to day basis, drawing down cash as you need it. Funds are wired into your account as you need them, based on... guess what ... assets! That really is the one key difference that our clients pick up on, that the total focus of this type of assets financing is the collateral itself.

We already know your next question... because we've heard it a hundred times before. Its' how much can we get ‘... followed by 'what does it cost’?

Speaking in general terms your receivables are financed at 90% of their value, and because of the nature and marketability of different types of inventory this type of collateral is margined anywhere from 25-75% . Even work in process can be financed for those firms that have progress billings. Recall we had noted that unencumbered equipment can be drawn against also. Typically an appraised current market or liquidation value is agreed upon with you and the asset financing provider. That saves the sale leaseback approach, which by the way is also a separate viable option.

Costs vary around this type of financing. On occasion it is competitive with bank financing - and giving you twice the liquidity - but more often than not it’s more expensive. You offset those costs by greater access to credit facilities that will grow your business and profits.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can walk you through the Canadian landscape of business finance loans in the asset based lending area. You'll quickly find, we think, that our prediction is becoming more true every day, asset based financing is hot! And here to stay.


7 Park Avenue Financial :


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com



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



7 Park Avenue Financial
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.














Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Guess What Your Business Needs? Working Capital and Small Business Finance Loan/Loans Options














Information on working capital solutions and small business finance loan arrangements that make sense for your cash flow needs. Cash flow financing via loans or monetizing your current assets is your challenge - here's how to solve your problem for business financing





Just picture your firm having access to all the working capital you need. Seem impossible? Not really... if you have a solid understanding of your options and your firm's capability of qualifying or executing on those options.

Whether you're the largest corporation in Canada or a small new start up (and everything in between) your business needs working capital. In Canada small business financing loans and financing arraignments for working capital are limited to a handful of possibilities - but being aware of what they are and qualifying for them could be the solution to your constant focus on cash flow via some sort of working capital loan.

It is probably easier than you think to ensure you are addressing the cash flow challenge correctly - where it gets somewhat ' thorny ' is matching a solution to the problem or locating an expert that can provide you with the business financing assistance you need.

Two key elements of your first step working capital assessment are your gross margins and your turnover. That's the big problem we have with text book / academic solutions to working capital - they point you to the text book calculation - give you a formula which essentially has you subtracting current liabilities from current assets, and voila! the inference is you have working capital. However, our clients have never paid a supplier or completed a company payroll with a ratio!

To properly assess your working capital needs focus on understanding your turnover - how much inventory do you carry, what are the days outstanding in inventory, and as importantly, or more importantly, are your receivables turning over. Have you realized that for many firms 80% or so of the total of all the business assets you have are tied up in A/R, inventory, and, on the other side of the balance sheet let's not forget payables?

So can you have financial success based on your new found knowledge and analysis of your cash flow and asset turnover? We think you can.

Canadian business financing solutions to small business finance loans really revolve around a couple viable solutions. Typically, in our experience Canadian chartered banks cant satisfy your business working capital needs - if only for the reason that they rarely finance inventory and require significant merit in your overall financials, profitability, external collateral, personal creditworthiness, etc.

So, where do you go from there? The other solutions are very viable and can take you to a potential 100% turn around in cash flow - they include working capital financing as a bundled line of credit on a/r and inventory via an independent finance company. For firms that are larger, we believe the ultimate tool is an asset based line of credit that provides high leverage margining on all your business assets. Other more esoteric solutions, but still very viable although somewhat misunderstood are securitization and purchase order financing of new contracts and orders. (Your suppliers are paid directly for the orders you have in hand - what could be better than that?)

Finally, coming up the road at lightening speed is factoring and invoice discounting. We mention them lastly but they are probably the most popular method, gaining traction every day. Our favourite is confidential invoice financing, allowing you to control your financing.

So there you have it. You have identified new ways to determine the need; we have outlined 4 or 5 solutions that will take the guesswork out of working capital. These loan and financing options are available with a bit of research, and, if you choose, speak to a Canadian business financing advisor who can provide you with timely and valuable assistance in your cash flow needs.



Stan Prokop
- founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial
Originating business financing for Canadian companies, specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 13 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations. Core competencies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


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.









Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6082722










Guess What Your Business Needs? Working Capital and Small Business Finance Loan/Loans Options


Thursday, December 15, 2016

Purchase Order Financing In Canada : The Inside Story On Business Finance Solutions Via P O & Contract Funding











You Can Finance Purchase Orders & Contracts … Can’t You? Yes Virginia .. You Can!











OVERVIEW – Information on purchase order financing in Canada. Business financing and funding solutions can be attained via P O Finance and Contract monetization - Here's why and how , as well as some other alternatives





Purchase order financing in Canada... works. In a lot of cases funding your contracts and P O’s will help take you to the next step in sales and profit growth. Let's dig in.


Firms that are in the SME (small to medium enterprise) often have been challenged with financing inventory / product needs as they relate to new contracts or large orders. What a conundrum - having an order and not being able to fulfill it.
Enter, stage left - P O Financing.


One of the hidden benefits of this type of financing, which is more expensive than traditional financing, is the fact that it allows you to demonstrate to more traditional lenders, i.e. Canadian chartered banks and asset based lenders, that your firm can establish higher levels of sales with clients you might otherwise not be able to facilitate with your services and products.
Many different industries can take advantage of P O / Contract funding - exporters, importers, firms in wholesale distribution, and of course manufacturing companies.


The entire concept of purchase order financing is based on what’s going to happen, not what has happened. The essence of the financing is the ability of your supplier to be paid by the inventory finance and purchase order finance firm in advance. The result - you complete your transaction - ship and bill your goods/services, and can bill and collect on those receivables and... profits!


The one key technical point of inventory and purchase order finance is the fact that the firms that finances these two items often has no interest in financing your receivables - they are in fact just specialized lenders that are experts in inventory and purchase orders and letters of credit .
That raises a technical point you must understand, which is simply that the inventory and P O (Purchase order) finance firm expects to be paid when you generate an account receivable. Therefore it is critical that you either have a receivable financing facility in place, of that your bank line of credit allows you to facilitate the drawdown of that account receivable.


The good news - many firms can finance both your orders, as well as your receivables.
You can expect to pay higher rates for financing inventory and purchase orders the reality is that you can increase sales significantly as other traditional finance entities have backed away from this type of financing.


So, how does this all work ?The overall process for purchase order financing is fairly straight forward - based on our inventory and purchase order and contracts in hand you identify the supplier arrangements you need to make in order to facilitate products.

Payment is made to your suppliers via cash or a letter of credit. If your gross margin is 30% and your purchase order is for 100,000.00 then naturally the purchase order or inventory finance firm usually is willing to advance 70k to your supplier as payment in full. At that point when goods are shipped and a receivable is generated then your P O finance partner expects to be paid.


Don't let your ability to finance your company be an obstacle to growth. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your business finance needs.



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 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 & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


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.







Friday, November 11, 2016

Working Capital Business Financing Sources





Information on how business owners can access working capital business financing. What solutions to business credit best fit your short term or long term growth and profit objectives?







Working Capital business financing is never a question of why - it's just simply a matter of when! Working capital and cash flow are of course the heart of every business. The challenges of obtaining that financing become a question of time.

Perhaps you need cash for for your regular ongoing business cycle - that's the simple one - you buy inventory, your produce things, you sell, bill and collect. In a perfect world your suppliers give you unlimited time to pay, and unlimited credit limits. And of course your customers pay you in exactly 30 days. Guess what? It's not a perfect world!

If you are a traditionally financed firm you have access to bank capital for revolving credit lines based on your business needs. But for a growing number of Canadian firms that access to traditional bank capital is not available. Those scenarios require a special expertise in identifying sources of business financing that work for you. The solutions actually are quite numerous - its becomes a questions of which solution works for your firm, what are the costs involved, and does the solution fit within your business model.

The business financing we are talking about can take many different forms - it might include an asset based line of credit, inventory financing or purchase order financing, a sale leaseback on unencumbered assets,, working capital term loans, or accounts receivable financing, otherwise known as factoring.

One of the most important things you can do for business financing is to ensure that the type of financing you source matches your needs. What we mean by that is that you should match short term needs with short term financing. Factoring might be a good example. If your receivables aren't financed, and you need cash to meet inventory and supplier commitments that type of financing is immediate and addresses your needs. Why would you enter into a five year term loan at fixed payments for a short term capital need or requirement?

The best way to think of short term financing is to focus on the current assets part of your balance sheet - those items include inventory and accounts receivable typically. Those assets can quickly be monetized into a working capital facility that comes in a variety methods. The reality is that your inventory and accounts receivable grow lock step to your sales and your ability to finance them on an ongoing basis will give you access to, in essence, unlimited working capital.

There are some solid technical rules of them around how you can generate positive pricing for operating facilities. By calculating and analyzing some basic financial ratios (we call them relationships) in your financial statements you can get a strong sense of whats available in working capital business financing and what pricing might be involved. Those ratios are your current ratio, your inventory turns, your receivables turns or days sales outstanding, a, and your overall debt to worth ratio. Depending on where those final ratio calculations come in will ultimately allow your working capital financier to put your firm in a low risk, medium risk, or high risk band of pricing?

In Canada working capital rates range from 8-9% per annum to 1-2% per month, depending on what assets are financed and how they are financed.

So whats our bottom line in working capital business financing? It is simply there are alternatives available and you as a business owner of financial manager can assess those alternatives in terms of short term needs or long term needs. Pricing and solutions vary, and your ability to convey the positive aspects of your business to the working capital lender will ultimately lead to a final pricing and solution. Speak to a credible, experienced and trusted working capital business financing advisor to determine what solutions are the best for your firm.

Stan Prokop
is founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial - http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

The company originates business financing for Canadian companies and is a specialist in working capital, cash flow, and asset based financing. In business 6 years the company has completed in excess of 100 Million dollars of financing for Canadian corporations of all size.

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.





Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5001337