Essential Franchisee Finance . Here’s How To Master A Franchise Financing Loan In Canada

Canadian Franchise Loans – Uncovered!


OVERVIEW – Information on being successful with a franchise financing loan in Canada . Proper franchisee finance is critical to your new business success .




It's that time... you're looking for a franchise financing loan for your business purchase in the Canadian business environment. Need franchisee finance assistance? Let's look at what you need to know... and do!

Unlike our good friends in the U.S. the Canadian franchisee entrepreneur has, frankly, somewhat more limited options when it comes to financing their business purchase.

While in the states specialized franchise finance firms abound, along with a number of types of banks that could facilitate your purchase the Canadian borrower quickly finds that not only will his franchisor not provide direct financing .. no surprise there ... but equally as challenging is the fact that only about 4 solutions exist in Canada for your franchise loan.

What you need to do is really focus on your franchisee loan as if you were purchasing any other business, either existing, or new, i.e. your franchisee rights and a turnkey solution offered by your franchisor or master franchisor.

What does that mean?Simply that it is back to the basics , which includes a business plan, the ability to demonstrate some operational skills and mgmt. experience, as well as being able to clearly identify that you can contribute the required ' equity component ' or down payment to your deal.

In finance there is a term called Sources and Uses ... it couldn’t be more basic... identifying where you will get your funds from, and then clearly itemizing each individual use.

What are those uses? It's of course the franchise fee, equipment, leasehold improvements, inventory, working capital, and in some cases, depending on what franchise you are buying, real estate.

The new franchisee is often so caught up and focused on getting a franchise loan that the last thing they are thinking about is short or intermediate term working capital needs... ie the fuel that will finance the business on a daily basis. It's all those basics, wages and salaries, lease and loan payments, and products and supplies.

So who are the actual franchise lenders in Canada? It boils down essentially to our traditional banks, the government small business loan, commercial leasing and finance companies and in the Canadian environment, 1 or two very specialized franchise financiers that are independent commercial finance firms.

A couple of notes about the players we have just mentioned. The traditional Canadian chartered bank rarely finances a new franchise on its own merits. That is because whether you agree or not the business is viewed as a small business and a start up, with no proven revenues, cash flows, and profits to substantiate the loan. Again, you might think otherwise, but the bank respectfully differs!

By far the majority of franchises in Canada are financed by the specialized BIL loan that is a government guaranteed loan. One note is that this loan has a 350k limit, so not all franchises can be fully financed in this manner.

If the specialized franchise finance firm doesn't have a true program arrangement with your franchisor you may also find a lack of interest in completing a transaction successfully.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on who can best assist you in your franchisee finance needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN FRANCHISE FINANCING EXPERTISE



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :



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

Who Else Wants A Franchise Financing Loan ? Franchisee Info On Canadian Franchising Loans

Secrets of Success In Canadian Franchising Finance


Information on securing a franchise financing loan in Canada . Franchisee Success is about franchising loans that suit your project.




A franchise financing loan. It’s one of two things you need to successfully gain your entry intro entrepreneurship - the other is of course selecting the right franchise and being approved for it!

Franchising finance in Canada requires a focused commitment by yourself as a franchisee. It is a combination of positioning yourself as ' finance worthy ' and at the same time ensuring you create the perception that you can successfully run and grow a business in the Canadian franchising environment.

Getting that franchise loan can be a challenge and a journey if you don't have some proper preparation done in advance. And don't despair, it doesnt have to be a solo journey. You can easily amass a core team of solid help - they might include your franchise lawyer, a banker or accountant, or a Canadian business financing advisor. Their advice and experience alone can take you over the top, which in your case is.. you guessed it.. Approval.

There still exists the odd would be entrepreneur out there that thinks that 100% OPM might actually work in Canadian franchisee finance. OPM is of course ' Other People Money ' and we can categorically say that 99.999999 % (have we made out point?!) of franchise loans in Canada require an equity contribution from you, the owner.

Don't even ask your next question; we know it already: ' How much do I as an owner have to put into the business to make the financing work?". For a starter that’s partly a wrong question or assumption already because you should be thinking in terms of financing the franchise so that is has a proper combination of debt and equity... and also the ability to grow via having some working capital for operations.

The majority of franchises in Canada probably don't necessarily have an accounts receivable component... but you certainly need cash flow for inventory, operations, payroll, your salary, etc!

In Canada some very popular and established financing programs can accomplish financing your new business with only a 10% equity component - however to both qualify and be successful at the same time additional equity is often needed to make certain financial rations work.

In certain cases your franchisor might be able to steer you towards some financing success - either through a referral or relationships they have established sources. The mistake here is that franchisees sometimes assume this either guarantees approval, or that the franchisor in some manner will support or guarantee the financing. A word of advice from experience - this is not the case!

Actually though the best co-signer in Canada has stated they are willing to guarantee the majority of your financing. What? We can see the expression on our clients faces as we make that statement. However in reality it's true, because the government of Canada in fact guarantees the financing they make under the Canadian BIL / CSBF program. And the majority of franchises in Canada are in fact financed in this manner. Talk about some great help!

We view getting a successful franchise financing loan as the ' hard aspect' of getting your franchising dream in place. Their is a ' soft' component to all this of course ; for example presenting yourself professionally, demonstrating your experience, and ensuring you have a crisp and complete proposal in place.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with franchisee financing in this exciting industry component of the Canadian economy.





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/franchise_financing_loan_franchising_franchisee.html

Common Mistakes to Avoid When Entering Into a Franchise Financing Loan

Many Canadian would be entrepreneurs and business owners find that financing a franchise is often as challenging (if not more so) than the process and work and due diligence in selecting the right business to purchase.

Lets share some hands on, ‘real world’ advice and tips on franchise finance in Canada. Fantasy might often work for you, but NOT in business financing!

Business financing is a challenge on any level, major corporations wrestle with it everyday, and you are wrestling with it as you contemplate your new business venture. Naturally all our comments and advice relate to both a new franchise or your purchase of an existing business that is being sold by a franchisee .

A lot of franchises would do well to understand how the franchise industry is regulated in Canada and what types of disclosure and protection are in place for both you, and, to be fair, the franchisor. Those rights and obligations you have are under something called the ‘Arthur Wishart Act’ if you are in Ontario - other provinces have similar legislation. We strongly recommend that you look at the Act, and quite frankly your lawyer might be the best one to do this.

Clients always ask us what rate they might be expected to pay on a franchise finance loan in Canada. We are very clear on that, and the answer is ’ it depends ’! Would a rate in the 5-6% range sound good to you. We certainly think it does given you are a small business and in many cases viewed as a ‘start up ’, notwithstanding your franchisors depth and reputation. That interest rate is available to you through a loan technically known as the BIL loan, also called the CSBF loan. Lay people call it the government Small Business Loan, and it is categorically the way in which a majority of the franchises in Canada are financed. Speak to trusted, credible an experienced advisor in this area of franchise finance who can successfully complete this financing for you.

Is a BIL franchise loan the only way to finance a franchise? Definitely not, other alternatives include a cash term loan, equipment financing for any hard assets in the business, and the final piece of the puzzle, which is your own owner equity or cash investment into the business. All business is financed by borrowing (debt) plus the owner equity contribution.

Can you get a franchise finance loan without any personal guarantees - the quick tip and answer is ’ no ‘, we don’t think so, but we also point out to clients the aforementioned BIL loan requires only a 25% personal guarantee.

Clients always ask if a franchise can be financed with no down payment - here’s our quick tip on that - No, absolutely not. Whether you are financing a pizza franchise or building a car mfg plant any lender in North America will look to some owner financial involvement in the project. The balance act becomes how much, as there are pros and cons of putting down too much or too little equity.

Can you purchase a franchise without some thought around a business plan - we don’t think so, and info act the best tip we can give you is to do a business plan, and if you aren’t preparing it personally at least stay involved in the input and the process. It will steer you towards a common sense level of financial success in your business.

Prospective franchisees are always asking if an appraisal is required. Generally it is, but the biggest tip we can give you in this area is that the modest cost of an appraisal can actually be the largest financial benefit to your franchise financing, as it has the ability to increase lender confidence and lower your estimated personal financial commitment to the business.

Franchise finance has many small twists and turns along your process - investigate financing options thoroughly and our tips should help you to minimize personal risk and maximize the financing of your business.

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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 6 years - has completed in excess of 45 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details:
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/franchise_financing_loan.html