Our blog highlights Canadian Business Financing solutions via receivable finance , equipment finance, working capital financing, asset based lending, business acquisition financing,franchise finance, and tax credit monetization via SRED and Film Tax Credits. Our goal is to educate and assist Canadian businesses with their financing needs. You Are Looking For Canadian Business Financing! Welcome to 7 Park Avenue Financial Call Now ! - Direct Line - 416 319 5769
WELCOME !
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.
Monday, December 26, 2011
Canadian Commercial Business Bank Financing - What’s Right ( And Wrong ) With Your Banking Strategy
Business Lines Of Credit In Canada
Information on Canadian bank financing . Commercial business banking strategies vary with your needs and current situation and required needs for growth or survival.
Canadian business owners and financial managers assess their commercial business banking and financing needs at different times in their company's life.
As in many other facets of business it's a little difficult to develop a solution and fix a problem if you don't understand the fundamental problem.
The need to grow your business and be profitable usually drives a bank financing need. A growing business consumes, and needs more cash, if only for the fact that you’re building up receivables and inventories.
In Canada business operating lines of credit are offered by our chartered banks. These facilities finance your A/R and inventory via specific margin calculations.
Most Canadian firms that have this type of credit facility submit monthly financials and aged receivables, which in turn create a new borrowing base under which you can draw funds. Companies that are having challenges ( i.e. they are in special loans ) or who are in breach of covenants may in fact be required to submit almost daily cash flow and receivable reports .
Although the basic arithmetic around bank financing and commercial banking is simple in reality there are a lot of other factors that might end up affecting your bank facility.
What are some of these? In the continuum of time certain industries fall in and out of favor. No better example of this is offered up than the auto industry. Other factors that you as a business owner might not like that affect your bank financing are issues such as your profits ( or lack thereof!) , they quality of business and outside collateral, and your banks insistence on personal guarantees.
Bank financing works best under the following condition - your company is expanding, but at a reasonable rate. One of the greatest ironies of Canadian business financing is that a hyper growth business, even if its generating profits, is often viewed as financing challenged by a Chartered bank.
Business banking utilizes a very basic concept that is often misunderstood by the Canadian business owner. That's simply the fact that with a commercial bank line of credit you're drawing on assets of your growing business to pay older items. But wow, when your business ceases to grow, or profit your ability to draw cash flow out of your A/R and inventory business line of credit stops. But you still have operating and fixed term payment obligations and it now becomes difficult to pay suppliers.
Companies that have a solid handle on cash flow needs and their historical working capital inflows and outflows are in the best position to manage their firms and access bank financing.
Time and time again we meet with clients that tell a very similar story - business grew, expansion plans were put in place, fixed and operating costs grew, and .. you guessed it .. sales started flattening or going down. The result - a recipe for financial disaster!
The ability to manage your cash flow, or, alternatively, slow down your business is key. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor for commercial bank financing that makes sense from where your firm is now.
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/bank_financing_commercial_business_banking.html
Saturday, September 17, 2011
The Ten Advantages Of Using Canadian Business Equipment Leasing Companies For Commercial Asset Financing
What Are The Key Benefits Of Lease Financing & Funding For Canadian Business ?
Information on Canadian business equipment leasing companies and the advantages and benefits of commercial equipment funding and financing strategies.
One of favorite U.S. Business equipment leasing publications recently published a ' TOP TEN ‘advantages of leasing finance. But hey, isn’t this Canada? So we thought we'd address those top ten advantages in terms of the Canadian perspective of commercial leasing companies that provide Canadian owners and business financial managers with hundreds of millions of dollars in asset finance.
So let’s try and ' Canadianize ' those advantages in terms of business leasing in Canada. Here we go.
#1 - Cash - You'd prefer to keep it, but unfortunately you need to spend in on new or upgraded assets to your business. And that includes everything from plant assets to new computing power. Utilizing lease financing lowers your cash outflow and often lowers the requirement that other lenders such a as a bank might demand for you with respect to additional equity in the transaction.
# 2- Cash flow management - Many Canadian business owners and managers don’t often realize the flexibility they have in structuring a transaction with respect to the tax aspects of the lease, as well as your ability to structure seasonal, quarterly, or some other form of payment structure that makes sense for... you guessed it, your firm.
# 3 Your ability to decrease financing costs with commercial equipment leasing allows you to utilize those savings for other things - a good example is your potential new found ability to take discounts on vendor payments to your valued suppliers . Using cash to take 2%10 type discounts could save you thousands of dollars every year, depending on the size of course of your company .
4. Our U.S. example that we are referring to listed ‘bank hassles’ as another great reason to consider lease asset financing. We're certainly not sure that going to a Canadian bank is really a ' hassle ' but we are the first to admit that many of our clients can meet stricter bank credit covenants and criteria - As a result Canadian business owners and their financial managers find that there are hundreds of aggressive lease finance firms who actively solicit their asset financing business - And that’s a good thing!
#5 - Leasing productive assets improves productivity and can assist in lowering general overhead costs. Although technology investments in plant, rolling stock, software (yes, software can be fully financed!) and computing can be huge competitive drivers in your business.
# 6 - Leasing epitomizes your ability to upgrade and be flexible and acquiring assets. Using such strategies as an operating lease allows you the benefit to return, upgrade, and purchase or extend key assets in your business.
#7 - Debt may be expensive, but anyone will tell you equity is even more expensive. Leasing assets can often help you avoid equity dilution in considerations such as bring in other ownership capital or partners in the business?
#8 We’ve observed that many small and medium sized businesses finance their businesses in part by business credit cards and small lines of credit. Utilizing asset lease finance allows you to keep those arrangements intact and current.
#9 There are a number of significant depreciation and tax benefits that Canadian accounting allows when you consider business equipment leasing companies for your commercial asset needs.
# 10 - It works - most of our clients have determined that their bank won’t lease the assets they need to run and grow their business. It’s easier to apply for and in many cases vendors and distributors offer preferred financing for customer choosing to utilize commercial lease strategies.
So there you have it, our Canadian TOP TEN ADVANTAGES of equipment leasing in Canada, with due respect to our U.S. counterparts. Want to maximize on any or all of these advantages? Speak to a trusted, credible an experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can help you with commercial lease financing.
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/business_equipment_leasing_companies_commercial.html
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Sources of Equipment Financing Loans In Canada – What Commercial Business Lenders Meet your need
Get Practical On Sources of Equipment Leasing For Canadian Business
Information on sources of equipment financing loans and leases in Canada . Commercial business finance options that make sense!
After Canadian business owners have made the decision to acquire assets for their business they are often faced with the choice of identifying the best 'source' of that financing.
Businesses lease or arrange commercial business loans for assets they need for ongoing operations. So who do you turn to for a financial option that makes sense - one that allows you to match cash outflows against the expected benefits of the asset you are acquiring?
In a perfect world, (and trust us we know its not!) you want to find a financing partner that has a good sense of what your business and your overall financial condition is about. Your ultimate goal should be to give your business a financing rate, term, structure and benefits that you deserve.
In one aspect of equipment financing loans in Canada we must regretfully report that ' size counts'! What do we mean by that ?Simply that the overall financing size of your commercial loan or lease dictates who your best financing partner will be . We advise clients that in Canada there are in effect 4 tiers of equpment financing size. They are as follows - large ticket, mid ticket, small ticket, and micro. When you know who the best players are in one of those four niches we believe you’re... to quote Charlie Sheen ' winning'!
Ever tried to put something in a box that doesn’t fit? It’s quite an unproductive task. That’s why we cringe when we see clients trying to put their box in a lease niche that doesn’t fit. The reality is that many Canadian businesses get the run around only because they have stumbled into the wrong niche. So whats our point, simply that the asset dollar size, type of asset and your overall credit and financial strength very quickly determine who you should be dealing with.
Credit quality is what business equipment financing loans are all about in commercial financing in Canada. Optimally you will get the best rate when you have a decent balance sheet, good cash flows, and a credible business history.
Unfortunately that doesn’t include thousands of business owners who have unpredictable cash flows, some historical operating issues, or who perhaps find themselves in an industry that is ' out of favor '. Does that mean you can’t be successful in commercial business leasing? Absolutely not , but it does mean that you are now in the category the industry terms as a ' story credit', and its up to you now to tell a good story . If you do that you will get a lease approval, but your transaction will be structured in some manner that affects the rate, term of the lease, or perhaps outside collateral, guarantees, etc.
So who exactly do you turn to for financing you need in equipment? The parties that are offering you financing today are captive vendors, banks (who really are into leasing these days) and independent specialized lease firms of all sizes, types, and ownership. (Many U.S. firms are key players in the Canadian business equipment financing arena.
Want to fast track lease financing approval, and ensure that you find yourself in the right niche and ticket size that we have outlined? Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will help you manage the process and identify your rights, obligations and key benefits. Get your 'best deal' with professional assistance, saving you time... and money.
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_financing_loans_business_commercial.html
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Why Canadian ABL Asset Based Line Of Credit Clients Win ! Commercial Revolving Non Bank Facilities Work
What’s Different About Asset Based Lending Line Of Credit Capital ?
Information on the commercial revolving capital facility known as the ABL asset based line of credit . What are the advantages and differences of this facility to a bank business line of credit .
If you speak to Vince Lombardi or Charlie Sheen winning is apparently everything. We're not sure that applies in business all the time, but we think we can prove to Canadian business owners and financial managers that an ABL asset based line of credit is as close to the perfect ' winning ' commercial revolving credit facility that you can obtain. Here's why.
An ABL firm is a business to business lender - yes we know that Canadian chartered banks are also that... but they are operating under a totally different set of rules. That is why small, medium and even the largest firms in Canada utilized asset based lines of credit for working capital and cash flow financing.
The essence of an ABL is the financing, to the maximum amount possible, of your receivables and inventory. Medium and larger firms can actually include a healthy component of fixed assets and real estate into that mix.
The extra financing capability that your firm receives from an asset based line of revolving credit (versus the traditional bank facility) gives you choices. What are those choices? Mostly good things - expanding your business... acquiring a competitor or peer, working thru a turnaround scenario. or simply restructuring to get your firm where it needs to be.
But can't we get the same sort of opportunity via a Chartered bank in Canada? ask clients. In fact we agree that commercial credit and lending in Canada via our chartered banks is in fact on the rise, all recent stats back up that statement. However, 2 simple issues come to mind when we talk over these financing challenges with clients - Would you in fact be approved for a facility via a traditional commercial revolving line of credit... and, as germane, would your company get all the financing it needs.
The hard core reality is that many firms we meet actually find themselves out of favor at the bank, they are either ' capped ' to a pre set limit , or find themselves in the very ' unspecial ' feeling that comes from finding yourself in Special Loans . (Trust us on that, special is taken out of context in this financial term in Canada!)
We do agree with clients that in many cases, when all things are equal, bank facilities might seem cheaper from a short term commercial line of credit.
Actually, in numerous instances an ABL asset based line of credit can actually be cheaper than the bank, roughly the same in pricing, or in a lot of instances more expensive financing... but... and its a big but... you have to weigh the fact that ABL delivers more borrowing power allowing you to enjoy discounts with suppliers and to purchase more effectively.
Any commercial or revolving line of credit that allows you not to have to give up ownership percentage is in fact always cheaper than the reality of looking to equity financing, a partner, merger, etc.
In ABL financing your higher borrowing capability comes with only two requirements essentially, you have to have the assets to borrow against, and you must have reasonable financing and reporting controls to validate the significant amounts you are now borrowing.
If you want to explore ABL asset based lines of credit as a solid alternative to funding your company, either temporarily, or permanently speak to a credible, trusted and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will work with you on an ABL relationship that makes sense.
Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial -
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/abl_asset_based_line_credit_commercial_revolving.html
Monday, July 18, 2011
Best Rates In Transportation & Rental Leasing In Commercial Trucking In Canada
Is it possible for business owners, financial managers, or owner operators themselves to ensure they have the best rates in transportation and rental leasing in Canada? Commercial trucking continues to be a large part of equipment leasing and financing in Canada: Lets examine some key issues around rates, structures and approvals for maximum flexibility and success.
Asset value plays a huge part of the relationship to winning from the viewpoint of a quick approval and a rate, term and structure you can live with. In many cases the Canadian marketplace does not offer as robust and offering as in the U.S. There we find there are all sorts of financial offerings around transportation leasing - these include full payout capital leases, operating leases, ' Trac ' Leases, etc.
We can safely say in Canada that the majority of leases are full payout capital leases - that is to say ' lease to own '. Typically your lessor will be on the ownership title, leasing the vehicle to you as the lessee
In Canada, or anywhere for that matter, the asset value plays a key role, as we said, in both lease approval and structuring. The bottom line - transportation assets depreciate in value and determining the value at the end of any lease term early in your transaction negotiations is difficult. This is compounded when you are acquiring used transport and rental assets, which play a huge role in the lease financing industry.
Physical condition therefore plays a key role in the financing decision, and in some cases an appraisal might be required. So, as ironic as it seems, some key factors in your final credit decision and approval might well include mileage, tires, safety checks, and maintenance stats. You therefore need to understand as an owner operator or commercial fleet manager that these factors may well affect your payment and play a key role in your lease vs. buy decision.
Some of the high level points of interest you should focus on to understand how pricing is determine in commercial truck financing are the manufacturer and model, the expected useful life ( again, either new or used ) as well as the ability to finance any soft costs associated with your transaction .
Working with a specialized expert in transportation is key to achieving a prompt approval that makes sense in terms of your financial obligation. Not all lessors in Canada have the capability to service and finance transportation rental & leasing that you require in commercial trucking.
A combination of knowledge, financing services that suit trucking, and value added advice are key. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor to assist you in achieving and approval and rates that make sense in commercial transport finance in Canada.
Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial -
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/transportation_rental_leasing_trucking_commercial.html
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
12 Types of Business Financing in Canada - Which Do You Need? Commercial Loans & Cash Flow Finance
Are you serious? We can hear clients asking that already. Can there really be 12 different BUSINESS financing alternatives in Canada available to business owners and financial managers? And are they finance alternatives that make sense.
Actually we're not serious, there are actually more than 12 different alternatives, some are just a bit more rare or esoteric we could say, and not applicable on a daily basis to your company relative to its finance and growth needs.
For small and medium sized businesses in Canada the ability to develop an overall long term strategy and plan is key of course. At the end of the day you want to optimize business assets for borrowing and determine which type of financing works best for your firm .That type of financing is going to come from two areas , clients and suppliers, and of course external finance sources.
When addressing where your business financing is going to come from in Canada you need to determine your optimal level of debt - many business owners don't always realize that certain forms of financing actually don’t bring debt on to your balance sheet, they simply monetize assets.
So, on to what you have been waiting for! Let's do a short highlighting of commercial loans and cash flow facilities that make up our 12 sources of external business financing. (Your profits and suppliers and customers are your other source of cash flow by the way).
12 potential sources of financing in Canada are as follows - confidential invoice discounting , inventory financing, sale and leaseback strategies, equipment financing, purchase order financing, credit card receivable financing, micro loans, working capital lines of credit, bank operating lines, asset based lending, government small business loans, mezzanine and subordinated debt finance.
That's a handful for sure What it really comes down to is determine which type of financing is available to your firms overall credit quality . Often that is tied to what stage of life your company is in - we've referred to that in the past as which stage of life cycle your firm is in. That could be start up, high growth, maturity, and yes, ' distress'.
Unfortunately the larger your company is often plays into the fact that you might have more flexibility and ' wiggle room ' in Canadian business financing alternatives.
Is there a formula or roadmap for that is perfect for any one firm? Unfortunately not, each firm and industry is different. Seek a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can ensure you are aware of various solutions that are most applicable to your company... today!
7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
Canadian Business Financing
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/business_financing_canada_commercial_loans_finance.html
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Sound Acquisition Financing Ideas – Commercial Business Loans For Purchase & Merger
Your company has made the decision to either merge or acquire another business. What are some of the key issues in successfully completing acquisition financing and business loans for commercial entities in Canada?
A good place to start is simply to ensure you’ve got the right reasons or goals around a merger or acquisition. In some cases you wish to diversify your company, more often than not though it’s simply a case of growing, both sales and profits of course.
Is the term ‘opportunistic a negative one? We certainly don’t think so when it comes to legitimate business dealings, so in many cases you simply have come across a firm or competitor that in your opinion is undervalued. Bottom line, it’s a bargain and you're focused on exploiting either undervalued assets or companies that are not performing well in certain market conditions.
Don't forget also that acquisition financing is all about some even more common sense scenarios as identified above. Its often a classic opportunity to lower your operating costs as overheads in the dual firm can be cut and other efficiencies can be extracted from the combined mix .
What are the types of acquisitions? We can summarize those into three areas, and in some cases the type of acquisition you make will impact directly the type of financing and commercial business loans that you achieve.
Back to our three merger scenarios - they are as follows: friendly, hostile, and leveraged or management buyout. Many smaller companies are of course happy and content to be taken over; they fully realize the potential synergies. However in certain cases it gets somewhat ' ugly ' in that the management or owners of the firm you intend to buy or acquire simply are opposed to the idea.
Leveraged and management buyouts tend to be asset driven. The downside of a leveraged or management buyout is that if done improperly a large amount of debt can leverage your new firm negatively. There are numerous creative ways to finance acquisition financing in Canada.
Financing methods include asset based lending, subordinate or mezzanine debt (i.e. unsecured loans based on historical and future cash flows) as well as a private equity component.
Valuation is an important aspect in the area of acquisition financing. Your valuation will have a direct impact on the business loans you enter into to complete the purchase. In evaluating a final valuation or purchase price you will want to look at things like general financial operating activities - i.e. the financials. But don’t forget also that other factors such as new assets that might be required, working capital needs, etc also will drive that final valuation number.
In summary, when contemplating acquisition financing look at issues such as the proper mix of debt and equity, cash flow analysis, , and various areas of operational risk and reward . If you want financial alternatives in financing your acquisition consider talking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will assist you in this exciting area of Canadian business finance.
Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial -
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/acquisition_financing_business_loans_commercial.html
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Still Not Leasing For Business ? Commercial Equipment Financing In Canada (Small or Large ) Will Change Your Mind
We want to know. What would make you change your mind about a Canadian business financing strategy or policy that works for 80% of all companies in Canada? We’re talking about leasing for business... commercial equipment financing for small business or large corporations.
Lets explore some reasons and advantages by the way, that would allow you to discover or re discover equipment finance in the Canadian marketplace.
Traditionally it comes down to your money, or theirs. Your money is of course the equity or operating funds that you have in the company already. ‘Theirs ' is of course funds you borrow. When it comes to acquiring a commercial asset of any type, from photocopier, computers, plant equipment, or corporate jets it's going to always come down to that proverbial lease or buy situation.
However, like and business owner or financial manager you have criteria to fulfill when it comes down to that finance decision. And boy has commercial equipment financing in Canada changed over the years. It has become a viable finance tool providing competitive rates and structures to every size of firm in Canada, from a 1 person start up to firms the size of General Motors.
There are a number of fundamental reasons why leasing for business makes sense - one good one is simply that it becomes in effect a partnership with your lessor lease firm, who typically have a lot of expertise in asset acquisition and disposition. (Don’t forget that all leases have an end of term, and that’s where some sophisticated help on purchasing, refinancing, or disposing of the asset can really help.
But do the key tools that equipment financing provide you with always make sense for your firm. We are fairly sure they more often than not will, but let’s examine some of those key features and benefits.
Not the lease of which is of course the concept of 100% financing .Oh yes, on occasion this might mean a down payment or a security deposit, etc but in general you are being offered a commercial equipment financing mechanism that will take care of 100% of your asset acquisition. But that’s not it... many of what the industry calls soft costs can also be bundled into this same financing solution. Typically some of these costs are installation, shipment, consulting or training, etc.
We spoke of all types of assets that can be financed. Technological type assets are the ones that make the most sense to finance - we're talking items such as computers or telecom equipment, which tend to be larger in size, and also subject to technological obsolescence.
By budgeting your cash flow today at a fixed rate, and estimating the useful life of your asset you are creating a perfect hedge against the risk of assets depreciating, becoming obsolescent, etc. In effect you've created a transaction whereby you have effectively transferred the risk of asset deprecation to your lease firm.
Other key benefits of leasing for business include management of cash flow and working capital, and if you utilize an off balance sheet operating lease both payments can be lowered and flexibility enhanced.
So... have we changed your mind? We hope so; at least we're sure we have given you some ' food for thought ' on a commercial equipment financing philosophy that should make sense for your firm.
Want to know more in what can sometimes be a complex business asset financing acquisition? Seek and speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can give you peace of mind in business asset acquisition.
Saturday, May 14, 2011
An Unequaled Equipment Leasing & Commercial Financing Option - Your Best Canadian Deal
Can we be honest with ourselves, as Canadian business owners and financial managers and all agree that when it comes to equipment leasing and financing of commercial assets we are all looking for the best deal?
It's just human nature, but the reality is that the thousands of dollars you can save in real money by obtaining a lease approval at great rates, terms and structures also keeps us competitive and ahead of the game .
Let's examine some of those methods used to fast track you to the best options available -including probably our most important tip, which is where to go to and who to talk to when looking for the best equipment leasing and financing . More on that later.
Cost savings, as well as cash flow and working capital savings. That's the essence of Canadian equipment leasing and financing we think.
Leasing has been around a lot time, some maintain thousands of years, but a couple of factors have brought it pretty well to the top of Canadian business financing these days. One reason is simply that with the recession formally over (we read it in the newspaper, must be true) that thousands of companies are again looking to expand and grow again, finally!
Also another reason is that new industries have sprung up that are tailor made for lease finance, and those industries (energy, solar, etc) are poster boys for solid lease finance strategies. Commercial lease financing adapts perfectly to technologies that change and need to be upgraded. Most business owners know you have two lease finance options, capital leasing and operating leasing. Structuring your transaction around an operating lease gives you flexibility on your ability to upgrade, return, or extend the transaction at the end of term.
When it comes to a ' pure dollar ' or ' financial' analysis of equipment leasing most Canadian business owners quickly realize that to make a project financially feasible the benefits of the asset or project have to match the cash flows . And financing your transaction via a commercial lease with fixed monthly payments matched to the economic benefits of your asset clearly does that.
Your company’s ability to conserve cash flow and working capital allows you to put that new found capital into what really counts, i.e. inventory, staffing, new systems, etc.
There isn’t a day these days when a client asks ‘Can such and such an asset be leased ' - and we think you know already our answer to that one - that almost any asset can be leased, even intangibles such as software. More often than not , depending on your overall credit quality lease financing is a 100% financing scenario - on occasion , if your lease has to be structured it might require a down payment .
So who is providing lease financing in Canada and how can you get this unequaled business flexibility in commercial finance. The reality of the Canadian market is that its very fragmented, made up of captive firms within large mfg companies, as well as independent finance firms that are both U.S. and Canadian owned.
Rates vary with asset and credit quality, and the hard reality of your transaction is that it has to fit the particular, let’s call it a ' credit box ' of the firm you are dealing with. Even some of the banks have full fledged lease companies , although the credit criteria is significantly higher as you can imagine - i.e. great rate, but significant qualifications required on your part .
So how do you wade through the mass of firms and financial offerings in the Canadian marketplace .Would that take hundreds of hours, which you don’t have. The answer, speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing and leasing advisor who can structure a transaction that meets your needs. Simple, fast, and allows you to benefit from those unequaled asset financing options. What are you waiting for!
Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial -
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 7 years - has completed in excess of 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/equipment_leasing_financing_commercial_best_option.html
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Why Your Competition Is Stampeding To Business Equipment Leasing Financing – Canadian Commercial Finance Advice
Be honest . Whether you admit it more often than not we're looking over our shoulder at the competition and what they are doing. Why not instead lead the stampede towards successful business equipment leasing and financing for the commercial finance needs you have in business equipment acquisition?
Well known business author Steven Covey ( The 7 Habits ...”) had a great line: ' Diagnose before you prescribe ‘. I guess we're breaking his rule a teeny bit because we do strongly feel that business leasing and equipment financing should be in your toolkit already as a Canadian business owner or financial manager. And we don't even know what your financial challenges or problems are... so that’s somewhat presumptuous of us... wouldn't you say?
Over 80% of Canadian businesses lease assets - your competition is doing it today. Why are they stampeding toward this type of financing solution - simply because they are choosing not to purchase outright and tie up huge amounts of cash (relatively speaking) and use up that much required working capital that’s needed for daily operations.
Your competitors are focused on two things - selling more, and making a buck!
Bank term loans often require additional collateral and other covenants to make a financing transaction happen - Business equipment leasing financing doesn’t not do that, it’s a commercial finance alternative that makes sense.
Getting approved is always half the battle when we talk to clients about their finance challenges. If you have a solid financial history, good business credit, and all those financial ratios that a lender looks at you can achieve extremely low lease financing rates in the Canadian marketplace.
But, look at some of your competition - as a savvy business owner you probably know your market and competition, and they might not be doing as well as others out there might think. So how are they obtaining commercial finance leases that allow them to continue to move their companies forward?
The answer in one word - 'structuring ‘. What's that you say? It’s the term that the lease finance industry uses in Canada to make things happen - for you.
In simple terms it might mean that you might not be able to take advantage of all of the great advantages of equipment finance - things such as 100% financing, the financing of your taxes related to the asset, tailored payments, potential off balance sheet financing .. And on it goes. The benefits are endless.
But guess what, as we said, if your firm does have financial challenges there is still a lease finance transaction out there for you. Working with your best lessor choice will allow things such as a potential down payment, a shorter term to the transaction, etc to make your transaction happen - which is what it’s all about.
Your competitors are stampeding to their business asset financing of choice because they recognized the benefits, whether they are financing computers, software, plant assets, heavy machinery, you name it. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor. It's now your turn to lead the charge to successful business finance in Canada.
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/business_equipment_leasing_financing_commercial.html
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Not Getting The Best Canadian Equipment Lease Interest Rates in Commercial Leasing ?
Looking for the best deal in town on Equipment lease rates in commercial leasing asset acquisition ? Our clients ' interest ‘in getting those best rates is always somewhat amusing to us. Why? Simply because the ability to understand how lease pricing is derived is not always clear to Canadian business owners and financial managers.
Lets examine some of the key factors that drive your final pricing and how you can have a very direct effect on the assets you finance and the price you pay - as always it seems to always come down to that ' monthly payment ' - so lets demystify that process .
First of all many business owners never take the time to look at their alternatives when it comes to equipment leasing of their fixed assets. Two key issues come into play here, one is simply they type of lease they enter into (there are two types - do you know which is which) and the second is understanding what the 5 (yes five!) components are of a very simple lease calculation.
Back to point # 1: When you are making that lease versus buy decision make sure you evaluate your alternatives.
The key alternative to lease finance is one in which you might consider a bank term loan, or alternatively purchasing the asset out of your operating cash flow based on existing credit lines that are in place. But quite frankly the reason you are reading this in the first place is that you have already decided that commercial equipment lease financing is in fact the best method of asset acquisition - at this point you just want a good deal . So we're assuming you have done your lease vs. buy analysis and are focused on our core subject today - a great lease rate and structure!
Getting back to those 5 key elements in lease financing pricing - what are they? They are simply as follows - the term of your lease, the interest rate being charged by the lessor, the value of your transaction, the future value of the lease, ( i.e. what happens at the last payment ) and out of that falls nicely # 5 - your monthly payment .
Many business owners, and are we say, financial managers don’t use a financial calculator. If you have access to that type of calculator you can simply input either your data, or assumptions on any of those 4 critical data points and out will pop the last piece of data that completes the commercial leasing pricing and structure.
Quick example - lets say you are leasing an asset for $100,000 - you want a 5 year lease, you think your lease interest rate should be about 8%, and you want to own the equipment at the end of the lease. Congratulations, you have just quantified 4 out of the 5 data points - Enter those into your lease calculator and you will see that the monthly payment is 2014$.
But wait, let’s say you can only afford 1500$ a month and you have done your analysis on the payback of the asset. Enter 1500$ into your lease calculator and it will show you that to achieve that lease payment the term must be 88 monthly, not 60 months .
Getting the point - its a simple one - understand that if you know the key elements of your lease inputs you can manipulate that info to achieve either the best rate, the best monthly payment, the optimal term of the lease, etc .
The type of analysis we have just done relates to a capital lease transaction - remember we spoke of two types of leases. If you want an operating lease (i.e. use, but not ownership of the asset) our data elements are just the same but you'll find that your overall interest rate on the amount financed will be much lower, because the lessor and you have opted to have the lease company own the asset.
Do we even have to mention that the key driver in the actual interest rate charged is very simply the overall credit quality of your firm when it comes to borrowing.
So what have we covered - simply that you have the ability to manipulate key lease elements to drive a final pricing and structure that works best for your firm. Is there a quicker way to ensure you have all the points covered - there is! Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian lease financing advisor who can ensure you the final deal is the best deal in commercial equipment leasing in Canada.
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/equipment_lease_rates_interest_commercial_leasing.html
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
How To Get The Best Finance Deal When You Lease Equipment from Commercial Leasing Companies
Isn't it true that everyone knows ' a guy ‘. in business .. Today we'd like to be ' your guy ‘when it comes to best deal / best pricing when you lease equipment via commercial financing leasing companies. Let’s get some major benefits around equipment financing, pricing, and structures.
As a Canadian business owner and financial manager you just might be overlooking one of the best forms on long term ' asset finance ' capital in Canada. And getting a solid deal on rates, terms, structure and prompt approval is why commercial leasing companies are often massively under utilized when it comes to providing your company with an alternate form of financing.
As we said, we promised to be ' your guy ‘... so here it goes. You can immediately go to the head of the class by showing that you are aware of a major choice you need to make when you start the lease vs. buy equipment decision. There are two types of leases, capital and operating. Think of them as basically owning or using, in that respective order.
Have you been read your rights? No, we're not arresting you... just letting you knows that as ' your guy ‘you have all sorts of rights when you entire into an operating lease. Payments are cancelable at end of term and you have no ownership or acquisition rights. However, the good news is that if you choose to, you have the rights to purchase the equipment; upgrade it and re finance, or return or extend the transaction. How is that for flexibility -- and you make those choices not the lessor.
Naturally when you opt to own equipment, as many assets to maintain their value (dont think computing in this case!) you now have a non cancelable commitment but payments are fixed and if you're smart you will match the term of the lease to the expected useful life of the equipment .
Don't forget also that we can divide the area of capital leasing into two subsets - a direct acquisition of an asset, or a sale leaseback on assets you already own. Sale leasebacks were somewhat out of vogue during the 2008 -2009 global recession, but they seem to be coming back, and as an alternative many of our clients have benefited from a simple short term bridge loan (i.e. not a lease) on certain unencumbered assets. At the end of the day it’s purely a financial move on your part - generate working capital from assets you already own.
Again, we're ' your guy ' right. So we have an obligation to remind you of 6 other key benefits of lease equipment strategies in Canada. Working with commercial leasing companies on these strategies will save you thousands of dollars.
The strategies are: the freeing up of working capital in your operating lines. In business you want to match the right debt with the right assets, and lease finance perfectly handles long term asst financing. The other 5 benefits are 100% financing, no additional outside collateral requirements, tax write off of assets that normally might not be expensed, simplified record keeping and approval processes .
Have we done an ' ok ' job as ' your guy ' in equipment leasing? We hope so. Are there potential disadvantages or other solutions to lease equipment or acquire assets? Yes there are. So speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on commercial leasing strategies that will work for you, not against you. That’s business 101!
-
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/lease_equipment_leasing_companies_commercial.html
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Canadian Do It Yourself Equipment Lease And Loan Advice – Commercial Business Financing
What caught our eye the other day in a U.S. based article was a title that screamed ' What's hot in Equipment Lease and commercial business financing '. The article went on to say that a large number of industries were totally back to using lease loan type financing for their asset needs.
But hey, this is Canada, so let’s try and make some sense of whats happening in equipment finance ' up here ' and how Canadian business owners and financial mangers can reap those same benefits.
Have you ever wondered what the most popular types of equipment are when equipment lease financing is utilized? In general the categories or industries that use this type of financing most are the following: Medical equipment, oil and gas assets, machinery tools, trucks and trailers, construction, and yes airplanes - clearly most aircrafts are financed!
It’s safe to say that if your company is in any of the above industries it might be advisable to jump on board, but the hard core reality is that lease financing and commercial business financing leases and loans can be utilized for any type of business asset. And when that asset creates revenues and profits for your firm a lease finance firm wants to be your financing partner.
Two key areas of equipment financing mentioned in the U.S. article were operating leases and used equipment valuation. It's been a tough couple years for all industries, and during the 2008-2009 but it is much easier these days to get used equipment financing, an appraisal or some type of valuation might be required.
As a Canadian business owner your perspective on asset acquisition probably constantly changes - you are wresting with general economic conditions, tax and accounting issues, and competitive pressures.
Can you actually be a ' do it yourselfer' in equpment lease business financing? We're the first to suggest expert assistance often helps but the bottom line is that many Canadian business owners are more sophisticated than ever when it comes to understanding the benefits of lease finance.
As a lessee you should be prepared to make a strong case for rates, terms and structures you think you deserve - this involves being informed about the general Canadian commercial equipment business financing market and then making smart choices when it comes to managing your working capital via this type of financing. Conserving your capital and cash flow , leaving your other borrowing power intact, and focusing on 100% financing of the asset will make you a do it yourself expert in asset finance .
Not 100% comfortable in working your way through types of leases offered, who are the players in the Canadian market, and structuring transaction that work from a cash flow perspective ? No problem? Seek out the services of a credible, experience and trusted Canadian business financing advisor who will assist you in your goals.
-
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/equipment_lease_loan_commercial_business_financing.html
Monday, March 28, 2011
The Secret Of Commercial AR Factoring And An Accounts Receivable Financing Loan In Canada
Mind your own business! That's what a Canadian business owner or financial manager would prefer to do when they are considering accounts receivable financing, aka a commercial ar factoring loan. AR is of course accounts receivable, your second most liquid asset next to cash. Oh and by the way, the good news is it’s not a loan, per se, more about that later. Unfortunately current practices don’t allow you to ‘mind that business ‘.
So is there a way your company can obtain all the advantages of factoring , receive a competitive financing rate, and at the same time implement what is in effect a confidential invoice discounting program ? There is. First let’s cover off some basics.
You know the drill already. Your client base and investment in accounts receivable is taking up a huge part of your working capital. Sales are growing, or you have some major new contracts and business, forcing your working capital needs to go up.
The strategy. It's of course what thousands of business in Canada are starting to consider everyday - factoring. (Also called commercial invoice discounting). If you were going to implement this strategy in the manner that your competitors currently are then you would sell your receivables as you generate them , obtaining immediate cash flow to generate more sales, more profit , and of course cover all those operating costs you need to run your business on a daily basis .
But wait a minute. As commercial ar factoring and ar financing stands now in Canada, utilizing the U.S. and European model, your clients must be notified that you have sold that receivable to the finance firm.
Is there a way to avoid that somewhat ' sticky ' process and embrace the theme of our shared information here, which is ' minding your own business ‘? There is. The secret we are sharing is the availability of ' C I D' which stands for confidential invoice discounting. This is clearly the accounts receivable financing of preference for Canadian business.
Let’s examine what just happened as you have implemented this program. You have a bankable, liquid asset, your receivable portfolio. You now have the ability to in effect ' monetize ' that investment into working capital and cash flow today.
The costs of factoring are always a concern or subject of discussion when we talk to clients. The cost is in the 1-3% range per month. However companies such as yours need to understand that you can often cut those costs in half by effectively using your new cash to generate immediate sales an profits, take advantage of supplier discounts, and purchase more effectively and ' smarter ' from valued key suppliers .
So how does our ' secret ‘, i.e. confidential invoice discounting (factoring) work? It could not be any simpler. You bill and collect your own invoices, still receiving funds for them as you generate them. C I D rates are the same as ' regular ' commercial ar factoring, yet you are now in control of the process. And remember, important for you to understand this whole process is not a ' loan ' as we mentioned, you are just monetizing assets and turning them into working capital as you need them.
Let’s recap - the strategy = generate cash! The tactic - C I D - Confidential invoice discounting. Do you qualify? We are pretty sure you do, so why not speak to a trusted, credible an experienced Canadian business financing advisor on this valuable working capital concept.
-
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/commercial_ar_factoring_accounts_receivable_loan.html
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
How To Review And Save Money on Commercial Equipment Financing and Business Leasing End Of Term Options
Billions of dollars of assets are financed via leases every year in Canada. Via the equipment financing and leasing industry. Lease financing is an absolute true method of commercial financing of your asset acquisitions.
What happens to these assets at the end of the lease, and how are some of the asset disposition and sales issues handled by your firm or the lessor? Let's examine some of the facts relative to the Canadian marketplace for equipment financing with a focus on saving you money.
Naturally a significant amount of time is spending at the inception of a leasing transaction in determining the new or used value of equipment to be leased. In cases where used equipment is being financed there is a need for appraisals and inspections, which are usually performed by independent third parties who have a strong sense and professional experience in valuing these assets.
In certain cases where a lessor has repossessed equipment and the asset is for sale then an appraisal is also a very valuable tool. It protects both the buyer and the seller. Many Canadian firms use business leasing to acquire used equipment when they feel the economic useful life of the asset will be valuable to their firm.
At the end of the lease, depending upon the structure and type of the lease, the business owner or financial manager must enter into negotiations to address the final disposition of the equipment.
We must remember that if your firm entered into what is known as an 'operating lease 'you have in fact opted to 'use' equipment, rather than 'own 'it. That of course infers equipment being returned to the lessor, or, per the terms of your contract, it can be purchased. Purchasing equipment at the end of a lease has significant implications for you around the value and use of that equipment. Naturally if you intend to simply return the equipment the lessor is chartered with disposing of that equipment.
We also note that it is a prudent business decision for Canadian business owners using commercial equipment financing to monitor the value of leased assets through the term of their lease, especially important as the lease approaches termination. As the lease approaches its end of term the lessor may also invoke its right to inspect the equipment, suggest return provisions, and, most importantly to the Canadian business owner, start to suggest the purchase price of the asset if in fact your firm wishes to keep the asset.
From the lessors perspective it wants of course to ensure a reasonable and proper value of the equipment. A major term in Canadian equipment financing and business leasing is a term called 'fair market value '. That term suggests that the asset under lease has a value to someone in the marketplace assuming there are a willing buyer and a willing seller.
The business owner or financial manager will want to look back at the asset and understand any upgrades or maintenance that was performed on the asset. Business owners are encouraged to look out into the marketplace and determine what current values are - the internet has become a fabulous asset to lenders and borrowers in assessing the true market value and availability of many asset types.
There are hundreds, perhaps thousands of used equipment dealers, brokers, and remarketers who can provide solid input into the value of the asset. Naturally contact several sources rather than one is a prudent action for both the lessor and the Canadian business owner.
As information is gathered the true value of the asset will emerge.
In summary, as a general rule it is incumbent on the lessor or finance firm to ensure proper diligence and procedures around assets coming off lease. The lender want to ensure they are made whole on the transaction, as leases are a combination of interest charged and asset realization at tend of term.
For the Canadian business owner proper care, maintenance, and on going valuation of the leased assets is a valuable investment in time and cost. This investment becomes more important as the business owner evaluates disposition options at the end of term. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor in leasing to ensure you understand the mechanics of end of lease options - it could save you thousands of dollars.
--
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/equipment_financing_leasing_commercial_business.html