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Inventory and Purchase order financing in Canada are two relatively unknown financing strategies for Canadian business owners and financial managers. The ability to complete an inventory and/or purchase order financing strategy allows you to produce more, distribute more effectively and in a cost-efficient manner, and also to buy smarter.

The ability of your firm to both buy smarter with additional capital, plus maintain the right level of inventories is a key factor in competitive success in your industry. INVENTORY AND PO FINANCING can be a stand-alone finance solution, or it can potentially be complementary to your current business financing.

The inability to secure supplier credit in the capacity your company needs is a constant challenge for many business owners. Vendors may often impose payment terms and conditions that simply can't be met and ultimately affect your ability to grow the business and profits. Sudden growth opportunities must be capitalized on or they go to your competitors.




Business owners and financial managers are required to determine what is their optimal financing for their inventory or client orders. Companies with solid P O 's from reputable clients are excellent candidates for PO Finance, while a general manufacturer who desires to build inventory levels on a constant basis should investigate the inventory finance solution.

KEY POINT - The least expensive form of financing is Supplier Financing - so the ability to get extended terms from valued suppliers is in fact the optimal solution, but often not available, necessitating the use of a funding company.




The ability to accept large new contracts as well as the ability of fulfillment to meet your client needs is the true benefit of INVENTORY/PO Finance and the services of inventory financing companies in Canada. Many firms that utilize this method of financing also have the ability to expand into the U.S. or other international markets, opening up massive opportunities for growth.

The ability to have access to capital and enter into new or foreign markets can be a game change to sales and profit growth for any business, Having financing in place to meet purchase order demands allows your firm to negotiate the best pricing and discounts available - in effect, you are ' pre-approved!

International purchase order finance can also benefit from the assistance of the Canadian government which has a mandate via EDC to supplement financing needs for Canadian exporters. A variety of industries can utilize this method of CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING and the ultimate solution is always tailor-made to your specific product and customer needs via a capable financing company partner.


P O Finance ensures that the financing in place is properly aligned with your payment terms to both your vendor as well as receipt of payment from your client. Numerous currency exchange issues are also dealt with within the PO order


It is important to understand both the similarities and differences in P O Finance as well as inventory finance solutions. Both function differently.

WHAT IS P O FINANCING?

Purchase order finance is directly related to a specific purchase order or contract and in essence, covers the goods directly related to the purchase order/contract. As a general rule only finished goods are financed under the P O funding mechanism, so no changes or modifications are allowed for the product. The entire process allows your supplier and vendor to be paid.
As a general rule purchase order financing is not for building inventory levels so a general manufacturing firm looking to increase inventory levels via financing would not look to PO Finance.
Purchase Orders are closed when product is shipped and accepted by the end client and invoicing creating a receivable occurs. At that point the a/r directly related to the order if financing in the normal course of business, depending on how the borrower funds receivables via a bank or financing companies in Canada.

Inventory Financing & Inventory Companies

Companies looking to leverage capital for build-up of inventories look to a sole inventory finance facility. The facility can be ' stand-alone ' or as part of a business line of credit or asset based lending facility. Therefore the inventories being financed are not specifically related to any one specific client. It is really a working capital solution for that critical part of your current assets on the balance sheet - inventory!

 Commercial finance lenders or a full service factoring company may choose to visit the borrower on a regular basis to ensure inventory is adequately maintained - companies should be capable of producing inventory reports and ensuring they have proper inventory accounting in place. For larger deals a lender might insist on a PERPETUAL INVENTORY SYSTEM being in place. Inventory can be a major portion of a company's cost of goods sold. ( COGS ). The ability to access capital to fund inventories is challenging and the ability to turn inventories is key to long term financial success.




One of the largest costs when it comes to operating a business in Canada is being able to purchase inventory. However, purchasing quick-turnaround inventory can be difficult for a new business owner. This is where inventory loans come into play.



Companies that tend to look for inventory solutions are distributors and manufacturers. Unlike our     P O Financing example inventory can be in various forms, which typically are raw materials, work that is in progress, and of course finished goods.

In the P O finance process credit adjudication is made on your firm and as well who you client and supplier are key aspects of the final approval to finance decision. When it comes to inventory is all about the valuation of your inventory vis a vis potential liquidation values in event of default from the bank or non-bank commercial lender.

As a general guideline a purchase order financing company will cover approximately 75% of the order from your client. Financing is directly related to the payment to your supplier. For most firms this will typically cover the majority of costs related to your order and it assumes that your company has good gross margins. P O Finance doesn't work well with low margin transactions as the transaction will not cover the additional financing costs. So have a gross margin in the 25-30% range is very desirable for this method of financing.

Companies that require general inventory financing for their ongoing business can get anywhere up to 70% of the agreed upon liquidation values of the inventory. In many cases some sort of third party appraisal might be required, but in general many inventory financiers are very familiar with inventory values and have significant expertise in certain industries. As a manufacturer your goal is to maximize on the funding value of the inventory.



Clients of 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL ask us how they can finance inventory more effectively in their Canadian operations. Inventory financing in a traditional manner had your firm acquiring an inventory facility as part of your Canadian bank operating facility. If you are successful in obtaining such a facility one of the challenges is simply that this level of inventory margining is not sufficient to meet your needs. The very simple reason for this is that the traditional chartered bank does not necessarily understand inventory lending, which requires a unique focus and specialized knowledge of a wide variety of industries.


The best solution for an inventory financing facility in Canada is actually a dual solution.
You should finance inventory separately outside of your bank arrangement – this will give you additional margining with a finance partner who understands your industry and inventory financing needs. The other solution is to combine the inventory financing within a non-bank asset based lending facility that provides you with maximum margining on both inventory and receivables. Your facility operates just like a bank line, but you are receiving maximum liquidity via higher margining of both inventory and receivables.


By higher margining we simply mean that if you were getting nothing or say 25-30% on your inventory credit line you will probably be in a position to now receive between 40-80%. What does that mean? Of course, it signifies greater cash flow and working capital for the Canadian business owner.


A ‘true‘ inventory financing facility will now include margining against all three types of inventory:


- Raw materials

- Work in Progress

- Finished Goods


We caution you not to enter into an inventory financing facility whereby your inventory must be stored at a third party warehouse in order to receive financing consideration. We do not recommend clients pursue this type of facility.


A solid inventory financing facility will allow you to grow sales and increase your working capital base.


With respect to purchase order financing this is clearly another financing strategy that has emerged as growing and more popular in the Canadian business environment. It is not difficult to understand its popularity. Consider your firm has received a large domestic or international order but does not have the working capital ability to properly produce and deliver that order.


More often than not that is simply because of the cash flow cycle – your order is large, you require inventory and equipment to produce the order, after you have produced it you have to bill the order, and then, of course, you wait to collect your receivable. That whole process can easily take 60-120 days in any firm.


With purchase order financing your supplier is paid directly by the P.O. financier. You then receive materials and generate products for your customer. When you bill your customer that invoice must be discounted immediately in order that the purchase order financing firm gets paid. P.O. financing works best when you have a small number of suppliers, and you have good gross margins that can sustain the additional cost of financing the purchase order and then the receivable. It allows you to grow your business and stay significantly more competitive.

Almost any size or type of firm is a candidate for purchase order finance solutions, even less established or smaller firms - as a general rule in order to qualify for financing of inventory a firm should be established and have reasonable financials.

Many inventory finance needs can be accommodated as part of a business line of credit that finances both receivables and inventory as part of the facility. These solutions can come from factoring companies or asset based lending companies. The process of purchasing more inventory via an asset-based line of credit frees up capital for additional purchases. As your receivables and inventory turn you purchase additional products to sell. Firms that have unsecured credit lines have the ability to purchase goods in the normal course of their business.

WHY DOES INVENTORY FINANCE & PO FINANCE WORK?

Alternative lending solutions that we have described work for business for some very fundamental reasons :

Alternative finance is generally much easier to get than traditional bank financing, so solutions such as a receivables loan or non-bank credit line are very accessible

Inventory, a/r, and P O Financing ability grow almost automatically as your business opportunities grow

The ability to leverage asset financing often not available in traditional finance increases cash flow and working capital growth to fund day to day operations and growth opportunities



Business Funding via Purchase order financing, as well as inventory financing in Canada, are ‘boutique‘ in nature. We strongly recommend you investigate the benefits of theses financing strategies by talking to an experienced and credible advisor in this area of Canadian business.


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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Click Here For 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL website !



7 Park Avenue Financial provides value-added financing consultation for small and medium-sized businesses in the areas of cash flow, working capital, and debt financing.



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. He is an experienced

business financing consultant

.

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 financing 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.


Click here for the business finance track record of 7 Park Avenue Financial







Stan Prokop
7 Park Avenue Financial/Copyright/2020

Inventory And Purchase Order Financing In Canada

How Does Purchase Order Financing Work vs Traditional Financing : Finance Your Orders & Inventory

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Information on Purchase Order Financing & Inventory Finance Companies

Purchase order financing is a relatively new addition to the Canadian business landscape . When utilized successfully it allows companies to take advantage of major opportunities that might otherwise not be possible .

Typically purchase order financing is most relevant to companies that are unable to obtain capital either in the amount required or at favorable rates . The financing is especially suited for firms such as importers, distributors, and manufacturers.

Other forms of financing highlight a clients historical financial results . P O finance looks to the future, without the collateral need that the former results require.

How does the financing work ? In essence the purchase order financier purchases the materials required by the client for their order or contract . Many transactions are time sensitive for the client , and the type and amount of financing required do not lend themselves to traditional lending time frames re due diligence required , etc . In essence the client is using the lenders capital to finance future growth .

A simple breakdown of the transaction flow on a purchase order/contract financing is as follows :

* Company obtains a large contract or purchase order
* Payment is made by lender to the supplier directly
* Suppliers ships goods/product
* End user customer acknowledges receipt
* Company's receivable lender ( usually a bank or factor firm ) pays purchase order finance firm


It is important to note that purchase order financing usually focuses specifically on the order or contract . The client requires an additional credit facility in place in order to retire the receivable and payback the purchase order financier .

Our experience is that a purchase order finance firm is looking for a longer term relationship, this is not a one shot deal business .

In the current banking and lending environment, with more increased focus on risk, it has been very difficult for firms to get traditional bank type financing for large new orders and contracts . Most firms quickly realize that banks prefer more stable predictable growth, and large new contracts or orders are challenging to financing when they significantly increase a banks exposure . Needless to say that foreign aspects of many purchase order transactions only exacerbate that issue - i.e. how does a supplier in China get paid, or even ' vetted '.

Our experience is that purchase order/contract financing only works when the client has solid gross margins that can handle the additional financing expense .

Customers looking to finance purchase orders and contracts need to focus on solid partnerships with firms that have capital, experience, and relative ease of doing business re paper flow, documentation, etc . The proper mix of those attributes will foster a solid business relationship that is mutually profitable for all within the unique purchase order financing realm .


Hand in hand with P O financing we at 7 Park Avenue Financial find that more and more Canadian firms require inventory financing as a component of their business and sales growth . Inventory financing in Canada is relatively under utilized and most business owners don't understand how it works . This new form of financing is growing .

Inventory growth needs put financial pressure on the balance sheet as vendors and suppliers continue to dictate payment terms in order to meet their own business and profit goals . As more financial managers know the ability to turn inventory over as many times as possible is a significant operating measure for any firm .

A company computes its inventory turns by simply dividing the ' Cost of Goods Sold' by the amount of ending inventory and ending up with a turnover rate . The rate of inventory turns is never an absolute number , as different industries have different acceptable inventory turns . Also, we should note that there are sometimes different inventory components - i.e. raw materials, work in process, and of course the final finished goods .

Many Canadian, ( and U.S.!) firms moved significant purchases to China in the last number of years , As China has changed its banking policy, and has also been a victim of the world liquidity crisis , more and more Chinese manufacturers are not willing to carry accounts receivable in the manner they did several years ago .

The crux of the inventory problem issue for any firm is the inability of the company to convert orders into sales simply because they don't have the inventory to satisfy their customers . Without orders the firm has no financeable asset . Day to day cash flow rarely is enough to generate significant additional inventory purchases.

The ability of a inventory finance firm to finance required inventory in turn allows a firm to generate receivables which are converted in true working capital .

An inventory finance firm will evaluate the company's overall prospects , its management, inventory controls, etc and determine what per cent of the companies inventory can be financed . To take the matter further a lender might, on occasion, require the inventory to be inspected at regular intervals, or in extreme cases, held in a separate location under the control of the lender . The inventory lender is looking for an acceptable business model which is replicable . Generally speaking inventory financing is never done on a ' one shot deal ' basis.

The risk in this type of financing is reflecting in the pricing . Normally the only other way a company could attract capital to generate high inventory levels is to issue additional equity . This is categorically more expensive than debt, or in this case the inventory financing cost .

They types of companies that require inventory financing are usually in the following categories :

1. Growing importers who sell wholesale in North America

2. Importers who sell to consumers

3. Intermediaries who purchase product and ' flip ' the inventory to someone else

4. Manufacturing firms with fast turnaround business cycles

They also have good gross margins which can withstand the more expensive cost of this type of financing .

In summary , inventory financing is a growing component of business financing . It works well in certain industries . Most firms who require inventory financing are either start ups, or those who cannot get traditional bank financing . ( In our experiences banks can rarely, if ever, meet a company's inventory margining requirements .

If you are looking for purchase order finance solutions seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with a track record of business finance success.



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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

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.



Stan Prokop

Here's What Really Matters With Inventory Financing Companies

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Little Known Factors That Affect Inventory Finance Solutions

Inventory finance lenders in Canada provide the solution to ongoing working capital challenges encountered by Canadian business owners and their financial mgrs. Inventory is often a key component in the current asset part of many balance sheets , particularly those in industries such as manufacturing . There are some critical factors in an inventory financing loan that need to be understood . Let's dig in !

Inventory financing is of course the collateralizing of your inventory for cash flow purposes . Where it gets tricky is that it has to work for yourself and the lender , and can also get a little tricky if you have existing financing in place as a part of your overall business strategy.

Most working capital solutions revolve around inventory and receivables - if your sales are growing and you have business accounts receivable and are turning your inventory you are a candidate for more working capital - especially as these two asset categories grow!


The key to facilitating a solid inventory financing, or purchase order financing in Canada is to help your lender get the feeling they will never have to realize on that inventory to collect their loan or financing proceeds! You want to be able to demonstrate that your inventory is marketable, and that you have the ability to control and count the inventory. A perpetual inventory accounting systems helps a lot in that process , so investigate that with your accountant.

In some cases a purchase order financing solution or an a/r financing facility might be very complementary to the inventory financing loan. This is especially true for firms that take on much larger contracts or clients / orders.


When clients ask us what can go wrong in an inventory financing scenario we often simply state that you must be in a position to be able to turn inventory over and demonstrate your products are marketable in a worst case scenario .


We mentioned earlier about the challenge of managing through an inventory financing facility based on your current borrowing arrangements. In a perfect world (we know it’s not a perfect world!) you secure both inventory and A/R financing via a chartered bank. The alternative to this is an asset based lending facility, or what is known as an ABL line of credit. This facility margins inventory and receivables to the maximum value, which great increases your ability to draw down on cash flow needs.


In a working capital or asset based line of credit situation you will usually have a larger draw down on receivable, but a proper inventory financing scenario can easily secure 60-80% of your overall inventory values and that is a lot of additional cash flow if you need to draw down on it.

BENEFITS OF A PROPERLY STRUCTURED INVENTORY FINANCING LOAN

The key benefits of a properly structured inventory financing facility are that it supplements your overall working capital needs. The facility should revolve, and you should only be paying for what you use. You should also have defined borrowing limits on inventory, and the ability to repay, or draw more financing at your option.


Your best inventory financing ability will ultimately come from your ability, as we said, for you to demonstrate proper accounting and reporting of inventory, as well as information on customer prospects, contracts, etc.


Pricing on inventory and purchase order financing varies with the size of the facility, lenders interpretation of the marketability of your product, and your ability to turnover inventory at equal to or better than industry standards based on your own business model. Focus on demonstrating clearly how inventory financing will grow your sales and profits, that’s a win win situation for you and your inventory lender.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your inventory finance needs.





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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Click Here For 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL website !



7 Park Avenue Financial provides value added financing consultation for small and medium sized businesses in the area of cash flow , working capital , and debt financing .



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.

Stan Prokop

Inventory Financing & P. O. Financing in Canada

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Looking for The Skinny on Purchase Order Financing ? We've Got It

Information on inventory and purchase order financing for Canadian companies. This viable asset based financing solution can be the solution for working capital financing and growth

Most Canadian business owners and financial managers probably don’t know, in our opinion at least, that financing options exist in Canada for purchase orders and inventory. In covering off financing alternatives such as this with clients we tend to lump these two types of ( relatively unknown ) financing in with the terms ‘ alternative financing ‘ and asset based lending .


Clients who typically have a need for inventory or purchase order financing have typically been unable to arrange traditional financing with their banks or other term lenders.


One of the most common needs that drives these types of financings is the global economy – what do we mean by that. Simply that many clients are telling us that their new suppliers over the last several years are in the U.S. and China, and in some cases Europe. Naturally it is obvious that suppliers in those countries are unable to extend credit to Canadian firms. You know what comes next! They require cash up front in order to release goods.


Even in the best of economic times Canadian business would have a challenge in financing inventory and contracts, paying up front, etc. 2008 – 2009 and the start of 2010 certainly is hardly the best of times, so Canadian firms, especially small to medium size, face huge challenges in generating cash flow and working capital to fund inventory and purchase orders . (Let’s not forget that at that point you have only made the sale and now you have to wait 30-60 days or longer to get paid. Therefore your investment in inventory and receivables becomes even greater.


What is the solution? That solution is simple to consider inventory or purchase order financing as a mechanism to finance your business. This type of financing can be arranged for firms of all size, it will ensure your suppliers get paid promptly, and can be generally set up within a 30 day period if you employ the services of a trusted, credible and experienced business advisor in this area.


So what is involved in P.O. financing and inventory financing and how does it work. Any type of business financing requires a standard application process, i.e. info on your firm, its owners, your current financial position and prospects, etc. Naturally strong emphasis is place on the actual orders and contracts those selves, or the type of inventory that you require that needs to be financed. It is somewhat important that your clients and suppliers can be validated – i.e. are they legitimate companies who have the ability to either supply your firm, pay your firm , etc . A well known name as a client or supplier certainly helps, but with the assistance of the internet, Dun and Bradstreet, and other sources most companies can be validated today from anywhere!


When you purchase orders are financing your suppliers are paid up front on your behalf – you pay the purchase order firm generally as soon as you are able to generate a sale and receivable . For that reason it is necessary to ensure you have either a banking or receivable financing/factoring facility in place


Purchase order financing has a higher cost of finance that traditional financing, so it is also important that you have some good gross margin profit on your transactions, as those solid margins help offset the cost of the financing.


In summary, purchase order and inventory financing are becoming more popular in Canada, although many business owners are still unfamiliar with this unique type of financing. While the financing is costly it can nonetheless help you grow sales and profits tremendously. Investigate this financing with a specialist to determine if it’s the right growth driver for your firm .





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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

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.



Stan Prokop

Everything You Wanted to Know About Purchase Order Factoring and Inventory Finance in Canada !

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Financing Cost and Methodology of Inventory and Purchase Order finance

Information on purchase order financing and inventory finance & factoring finance solutions in Canada

You may or may not agree we are technically still in a ‘ business credit crunch ‘ but you probably will agree that your Canadian firms ability to factor purchase orders and arrange inventory finance is still a major challenge . Is there any solution, traditional or otherwise, to this ongoing Canadian business financing challenge? We happily tell clients there is, it’s just a case of having the right knowledge and ensuring you qualify for such financing. And you may find that due to the specialized nature and experts in this industry that are available, that it is not as hard as you thought!

Traditional sources of purchase order factoring and inventory finance are the Canadian chartered banks. To qualify for such financing the pre requisites are very clear - a decent balance sheet and income statement, growth prospects, profitability, potential external collateral, and the guarantees of owners and shareholders . Easier said than done, right?!

Purchase order and inventory financing can provide you with the working capital and cash flow to grow your company. It is simply a case of securing this type of financing, but at the same time recognizing that that costs and methodology around this type of financing makes sense for your company.

By assigning or selling your rights in the purchase order to a specialized inventory and p.o. financing firm your supplier is guaranteed payment of goods that you require to fulfill orders and contracts. When your supplier is paid goods or product is shipped to yourself, or potentially your customer, less a financing fee, which is typically in the 3% range. That fee varies, but is a good general starting point for discussion and negotiation.

The concept of the financing fee around purchase order and inventory financing is critical as it relates to your gross margin, or overall profitability on your transactions. If you are in a low margin, slow turnover business the financing fee around a p.o and inventory financing scenario can eat away significantly at your overall profitability. Quite frankly the inventory and p.o. financing firm might deem your overall ability to complete the transaction as not making sense for all parties – there is no reason to just turn over sales and revenue if you do not have a solid profit outcome.

We all know the saying ‘timing is everything ‘, and how about another well worn but quite solid cliché – ‘the sale is not completed until your invoice is paid ‘. Those two well worn saying factor significantly into inventory and purchase order finance. The inventory finance firm expects to be paid when the product is delivered and your invoice is generated. In normal circumstances, if your firm is traditionally financed, you would borrow against your receivables and pay the inventory finance firm, which in some cases could be your bank. (If you had access to traditional finance). If your firm can’t repay the inventory and finance firm then it is wise, and in fact common, to arrange for factoring of your invoice. This is simply the sale and discounting of your invoice – with those funds you pay your supplier, your firm is now paid, and you have realized the actual cash profit on your sale. (Assuming you had those good profit margins we spoke of!)

By now you have probably figured out that a number of key players play a role in the inventory financing and purchase order financing cycle. Those key players are your firm, your customer, your supplier, and the inventory finance and P.O. finance firm. All are dependent on each other to perform properly in purchase order factoring , and in a timely fashion. Business owners and financial managers by now have probably realized the importance of validating your own customer, the purchaser or your product, as being credit worthy and agreed to your payment terms. If those don’t happen you clearly are at risk.

Despite the costs associated with inventory and purchase order financing in Canada there are a number of advantages – your company can grow significantly based upon access to large amounts of capital you might otherwise have not been able to raise or borrow .

And remember, inventory and purchase order finance is not debt on your balance sheet, you are simply monetizing inventory and p.o.’s to raise liquid capital.

So where do you obtain this type of financing. It’s a specialized form of business finance and we suggest to clients that they obtain the services of a successful, credible, and experienced business financing advisor in this area. That allows you to capitalize on opportunities for growth. That person can also assist and help you wade through the finance maze of basic issues, which might include the size of the facility you need, what info you need to provide to complete the financing, how long does it take to arrange the facility, as well as the costs associated with your transaction on a one of or ongoing basis.

When you are comfortable that his type of financing makes sense you should be able to complete your transaction within a number of weeks , assuming the proper level of transparency between you, your customer and your inventory finance and purchase order lender .

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.

Stan Prokop

Invoice Cash – Immediate Cash For Accounts Receivable And Inventory

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Cash Flow From Your Sales - Figured Out - Finally !

Information on invoice cash financing strategy . The ability to generate immediate AR Cash from your sales revenues increases the probability of business financing & financial success

Invoice cash – What is the problem and what is the solution? The problem or challenge is a classic one for Canadian business owners and financial managers. It is that sales are growing fast, but, guess what? The receivables associated with those fast growing sales and converting into cash. In fact they are tying up your working capital for 30, 60, and sometimes 90 days. How can you tell if this is happening? Well we are sure it’s fairly intuitive to most customers, but you can actually do a very basic calculation on this to verify. We also tell our clients there is one easy way to fix the problem,


We advise our clients to track something as simple as the ‘ Turnover of Working Capital ‘ – Take your sales for the time period, example, month, or year , and divide by you working capital which is calculated by current assets minus current liabilities . If your ratio is trending higher you will find that you are having more working capital challenges.


Our clients often ask for solutions though, not a financial ratio as we have presented above! Invoice cash, also known as factoring or receivable discounting is one solution to the above working capital challenge. This solution also assumes you have been unable to get any, or enough, bank financing to fund your business.


How does this solution work – it’s a simple process of generating your invoice as you sell your product, and then on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis (it’s your choice) sending these invoices to the factoring or invoice discounting firm. They will on a same day basis send you approx 90% of those funds immediately. You have just generated IMMEDIATE cash flow for your business. The other 10% of the invoice is paid to yourself when your customer pays, minus a ‘ discounting fee ‘ , which is a carrying or financing charge for the factoring firm .


Canadian business owners need to ensure they have the right facility. We encourage clients to get the type of facility where they continue to bill and collect their own receivables during the factoring process. Also, the Canadian business landscape relative to invoice cash/ factoring firms is much different than in the United States.


As a Canadian business owner or financial manager contemplating a factoring facility you should consider the following key points:


-What fees are you paying – ensure your fee is clearly understood and has no miscellaneous costs


Ensure you can bill and collect your own receivables – many factor firms will want to take over to some degree your invoicing and collection function


Ensure you are dealing with a firm that understands the Canadian landscape – many firm are simply branches of U.S. organizations


You should ensure that your capital requirements can be met and that the firm can fund companies in your facility size range. More cash flow means more growth, more profits, and more competitive success for your Canadian company.


That is a good thing!




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.







Stan Prokop