Commercial Loans In Canada : No Silver Bullet Approach To Raise Capital For Business Investment

Eliminating The ‘ Dark Side ‘ Of Canadian Business : Financing

OVERVIEW – Information on commercial loans in Canada . The ability to raise capital for investment in business growth depends on a number of key factors.

Commercial loan needs In Canada: Cash and capital are two basic fundamental needs for any Canadian business. Your ability to raise capital and access funding for investment depends on some key factors. Let’s dig in.

Every counted the needs you have around working capital and ongoing cash flow? They include fixed costs such as rent/leases, wages, equipment needs, and even ongoing research and development if that's applicable to your industry. Business owners also want to ensure they are not overly exposed personally when it comes to personal assets and collateral they are more often than not required to pledge. The hard reality is that the search for cash and capital are never ending and your current situation will almost never mirror your long term needs. All those factors contribute to a feeling of entering the ‘ dark side ‘.

Many business owners and clients we meet are sometimes of the opinion there is one ' silver bullet ‘.

Top experts tell us that in fact a number of different factors determine what type of capital you require and in what amount .Those factors include:

Type of industry

Capital Intensity requirements re needs for fixed assets

Profit margins

Sources of capital can potentially be accessed quicker if you have access to people in the know - they include accountants, lawyers or a Canadian business financing advisor. Their ability to provide you with a road map to financing success increases commensurate with their expertise.

There are also huge differences in capital solutions depending on whether your firm is a start up, in business and growing, or mature and looking for new markets or acquisitions. NOTE: One of the best solutions for start up financing in Canada is the Govt Small Business Loan, aka the ' SBL '. It finances equipment and even leasehold improvements to rented premises. Having a track record in business or in a particular industry really helps here.

As businesses mature they need to both acquire and finance assets. Financing assets can be achieved through various means:

Traditional bank lines and term loans

Receivable and Inventory Financing

Monetization of SR&ED tax credits for companies that participate in that program

Asset based non bank business credit lines - They are known as ' ABL's

Equipment financing and Sale Leasebacks

Commercial lenders have never been more plentiful and are providing financing in various ' niches’ for SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE needs.

We constantly remind clients that angel investors , venture capitalists, and private equity groups offer equity capital for the rare 1-2% of business that qualifies for this method of capital raising - ' Equity '.

More mature firms may want to divest either divisions or founders may wish to sell their business. Acquisition financing must be matched to proper valuation and asset situations.
If you’re at the crossroads in business financial solutions consider seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can bring some light to the ‘ dark side’ of business : funding .




Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN COMMERCIAL LOANS AND CAPITAL INVESTMENT EXPERTISE


Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience























Stan Prokop

A SRED Research & Development Tax Credit Loan : SR&ED Finance In Plain Sight

SR&ED Tax Credit Financing Is The 5th Building Block In Your R&D Strategy

OVERVIEW – Information on SRED ( SR&ED ) research and development tax credit loan finance. Financing your refundable tax credit accelerates cash after your claim is properly completed and filed

A SRED (SR&ED) research and development tax credit loan finance strategy is essentially the 5th building block in your overall R&D strategy. The bottom line - it brings your cash recovery in plain sight! Let's dig in.

SR&ED claimants in Canada can be veteran participators in the program, or in some cases first time filers. From our perspective when we talk to clients in the area of SR&ED loans it's really a 5 prong strategy, with financing being that last building block that brings the cash home .

So what about those other 4 initial building blocks and how does the Canadian business owner/ financial manager filing ensure they have all the bases covered. It all comes down to a common sense approach to your R&D finance strategy.

First of all you have to ensure you're eligible, other wise time and expense will be part of your agenda you don't want. First time claimants often think their claim might be too small - smaller claims would typically be in the 50k range and larger claims certainly can be all the way up to a Million dollars+.

While the vast majority of firms are claiming SR&ED are legal corporations that actually isn’t a requirement and sole proprietorships/partnerships can also claim and file their R&D spend. Percentages of recovery of your research and development vary by category , and qualified SRED consultants or individuals can properly assess maximum recovery , which can be from 15-35% of your total spend.

Secondly, we've already mentioned the 'SR&ED Consultant ' - it's his or her role to ensure your claim qualifies. The quality of that filed claim will determine your total cash recovery, i.e. the refund. While the essence of a claim is the ' experimentation ' around the advancement of technology the manner in which that is documented is key.

The third building block is the way in which your claim is filed and when. You or your consultant is required to document your efforts and costs. Those costs typically include salaries that are a part of the R&D, payments to contractors, and overhead and materials. In recent years equipment purchased for research qualified but no longer does.

The 4th building block. It's simply filing your claim which is typically done at the time you file your annual financials. The majority of consultants that Canadian business/owners managers use are paid on a contingency basis so filing a proper claim in the right timelines is as important to them as yourself. In recent years these preparers of claims actually have to identify themselves and their compensation arrangement with your firm

That brings us to building block # 5, and it’s the financing of your claim, unless of course you choose to wait for a refund. Refundable tax credits are a key part of the cash flow for many firms, and for them it makes sense to finance a claim and accelerate cash.

A SRED tax credit loan is a very basic process, with your actual claim, i.e. the refund serving as the key collateral for the loan. Claims are financed at 70% loan to value... so a 200k claim would typically net the business owner 140k in immeidate cash.

And those payments? The good news is there are none during the entire waiting process - and when your claim is adjudicated and approved you immediately receive the balance of the claim less financing costs. If you are focused on financing next years claim and have already started to spend on R&D monies can also be advanced prior to final completion and filing of your claim. In effects it's a SRED credit line for your research...

If you're filing SR&ED claims and feel cash flow acceleration is key investigate SRED FINANCE by speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in the financing of your claim.



Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN SR&ED TAX CREDIT FINANCING EXPERTISE



Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop

Canadian Receivables Factoring and Financing! Pick The Best Cost and Rates Of Invoice Finance

Meet your new favorite ways to achieve working capital financing - This is Serious Business!

Information on Canadian receivables factoring and invoice finance rates in Canada . How does the owner pick the right facility and the right lender . Now you know!

We encountered a great term the other day when it comes to business financing - the term was ' expansionary finance '. Is it just us or does this term seem to perfectly cover off factoring and receivables financing.

Often though three key issues come up when Canadian business owners and financial managers consider this type of financing. What are those 3 issues? They are:

Total cost of this type of financing

Rates associated with this facility

What type of firm offers the best facility to match your company's own specific needs


Let's learn and cover off those issues, which will allow you to get more comfortable we think with this type of Canadian business financing.

So, why should you even be considering receivables factoring? Simply because it has become a common way for Canadian business to cash flow their accounts receivable and generate working capital based on your own policy of extending credit terms to your customers.
And, as most business owners know, sales does not equal cash flow and when business financing of your A/R is not available from your bank a logical place to turn to is to an independent finance firm that offers invoice financing.

But, what does this type of financing cost, and who offers it, and an even better question... 'How do you pick the best factoring partner?
In Canada the financing and factoring of A/R varies widely. As a general rule we can say the cost is between 1-3% per month based on the size of the facility, your overall financial condition, and most importantly, whether you have sought out and picked the finance firm that best suits your needs.

Let's clarify our comment on your overall financial condition. Receivable financing places much less emphasis on your firms overall financial health - in fact a huge amount of Canadian firms that utilize this type of financing are in stages of turn around, high growth, experiencing temporary financial losses, etc. So don't despair that your firm isn't eligible. But, as we said, your client base, the size of your A/R portfolio on a monthly basis and some other factors will dictate your overall pricing.

Frankly the best costs in factoring finance in Canada start to be achieved when your monthly financing capability for A/R is greater than 250k. Is there a ceiling on the amount of facility? Absolutely not, and facilities that go into the several millions of dollars on a monthly basis happen everyday in Canada.


Clients often ask our favorite most recommended type of facility. That's a simple one - its called C I D - which stands for Confidential Invoice Discounting, allowing you to be in total control of billing and collecting your own a/r without any notification to clients that comes with the U.S. and U.K.versions of a/r finance.


Remember also that when you are addressing the always top of the list issue with firms such as yourself, ' Cost ' that you need to factor in things you might never have thought about. They include your ability to grow your business and generate more profits simply because you now have the capital to do so, albeit at a higher cost. And couldn't you offset some of the cost of factoring by taking discounts with your own suppliers (and improving relations with them along the way!), as well as purchasing more effectively with your new found working capital?


So, in summary, if you need a financing partner when you are considering a receivable management and financing solution seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
who will ensure your cost and partnership with your factoring firm is focused on a mutually beneficial relationship for financing success.




Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop

Asset Based Finance : Here’s Your Hall Pass On Business Credit Lines

The Perils Of Perception In Asset Based Business Lines Of Credit




OVERVIEW – Information on business credit lines in Canada. Whether it’s the bank or asset based loan it’s critical for owners/managers to understand the positive and negative implications of each type of revolving facility

Business credit lines , we've found, come with certain ' perceptions' from business owners and financial managers in Canada. There are some dangers in those perceptions.

Let's dig in.

A business revolving credit line actually comes in a couple different shapes and sizes - and the differences between bank facilities and other commonly used financing methods are significant. So how about a ' hall pass '

on our subject. We'll look at the typical use of these facilities, who qualifies for what, and how they are structured in terms of collateral and security. Along the way you'll see there are some benefits and disadvantages from each type of facility, as well as some major cost differences.

Revolving credit lines are a specific type of secured financing and are directly related to the current and fixed assets of your business. Although Canadian chartered banks typically lend against receivables and inventory ( mostly receivables actually ) an Asset Based Lender has the ability to bundle a/r, inventory, and even your fixed assets into one asset base you can borrow against on a continuous basis . That's one of the key differences between a bank line and a credit facility

Credit facilities are available from either a bank or commercial finance firm for almost any size, and no firm is really ineligible - every industry really qualifies and that includes mfg firms, distributors, service firms, and technology related industries. Firms that sell on an all cash basis rarely qualify for bank or asset based credit lines unless they are large retailers where the financed asset is the inventory.

If there is one simple way to view the difference between a bank credit line and an ' ABL ' solutions it's simply the difference in how each of those two lenders looks at it. One is cash flow based (‘the bank ' )

and the other is asset based. (‘the asset based ABL lender').

Asset based lending focuses on the constant ebb and flow of turnover of assets - in almost every business there's a certain ' rhythm ' in that turnover that constantly repeats itself. So as the ABL lender gets comfortable with your peaks and valleys, and the quality of A/R and inventory it's relatively easily for your business to achieve all the working capital you need based on sales and asset growth.

Costs are a huge aspect of the conversation around bank vs. ABL lending. While mostly, (but not always) more expensive, asset based lending delivers on more borrowing power. The business owner/manager must balance access to credit vs. cost of credit. Additionally banks impose various covenant and ratio restrictions that must be met. Those restrictions tend to be only borrowing based focused when it comes to an asset based lien of credit.

If you're looking to maximize liquidity and borrowing power from business credit lines, and want to know the difference between your two choices seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can ensure your credit line needs are met with an objective and workable solution.





Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN ASSET BASED FINANCE AND BUSINESS CREDIT LINES EXPERTISE




Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop

A Govt Guaranteed Small Business Loan :The Ultimate In Crossover Loans

No Surprise Here :

How You Apply For A Government Backed Loan Determines What You Get









OVERVIEW – Information on the govt guaranteed small business loan in Canada. Navigating the application process smoothly with this information

A Govt guaranteed small business loan in Canada is probably the ultimate in what we could call a ' crossover' financing. Why? It delivers all the benefits (and more) of traditional term loans and in many ways is more accessible for entrepreneurs and existing business owners. Let's dig in.

Another given in federal small business loan financing is also the fact that your ability to apply properly will always determine the amount and timing of your approval. Unlike many other types of business financing in Canada ' SBL ' loans can be adjudicated in only a few days if a proper application package is done. And by the way, there’s lots of help out there to do that work for you at no or minimum cost.

What then are the components of a successful small business loan financing under the ' CANADIAN SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING ' aka the 'CSBF ' Program? Knowing where to go is a good start, and it commences by understanding that the government actually has nothing to do with the program on a day to day basis, they assume the majority of the risk for the loan and your bank does the rest.

Planning in advance is key to success in ' SBL’ loans financing. Your primary document is a business plan, or at a minimum a strong executive summary. There is only one goal here - to ensure you properly lay out why the loan is a legitimate and sound investment under the program.

That is achieved by properly presenting the business in terms of:

Industry overview

Your management or industry expertise

Competitive conditions

Proper opening balance sheet and cash flow positioning

It is also key to lay out clearly the exact use of funds - since the program only finances two asset categories, equipment and leaseholds, its critical to show the proper description and use of the funds. Many franchises are financed under the program under all the same criteria.

In certain circumstances you will have a challenge in loan approval if you don't properly demonstrate management depth and experience related to your project. An example might be the opening or purchase or a restaurant, an industry with a high default rate, so mgmt expertise is clearly desired.

While the majority of businesses that apply for government loans are incorporated its critical to note that it's not 100% necessary, but if you're focused on a real business as opposed to a hobby incorporating is clearly the way to go in our opinion.

If you are looking to explore the benefits of a government backed loan in Canada seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you with your application needs.



Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN GOVT GUARANTEED LOAN EXPERTISE



Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop

Cash Flow Financing Alternatives To The Business Loan Challenge In Canada

Looking for ‘ Fun Facts ‘ In Business Cash Flow Alternatives ?

OVERVIEW – Information on business loan alternatives in Canada . Cash flow financing requires the right combination of asset monetization, debt and potential equity / quasi equity solutions

Business loan challenges aren't always associated with ' fun facts' for Canadian owners/financial managers. When it comes to either cash flow financing, monetizing your assets, or even exploring some equity options there are numerous sources that might not have been either identified or understood. Let's dig in.

While in some cases one simple financing/refinancing solution might do the trick more often than not it’s a combination of a couple of different solutions that are required to ' cobble together ' the financing your business needs.

Businesses that own their facilities, or own specific assets without liens can utilize a sale leaseback strategy to generate working capital.

Lease to own strategies are very common solutions acquiring assets and minimizing cash outflows in that process. A popular asset category has become computers/tech/software assets that are higher cost and always requiring upgrades.

The best way to approach solutions for cash flow financing is to balance outside debt with your ability to totally maximize your assets. A true irony in business is when owners or other perceive high levels of inventory and receivables as positive when in fact these are no being turned over and are putting the business at risk. Naturally having orders / contracts and no inventory to satisfy these is the opposite of that problem, and a problem in and of itself. In recent years companies have turned to Purchase Order Financing to satisfy order growth when traditional financing is not available.

When running your business on a daily basis you can very easily analyze levels and performance in inventory and A/R. These analytical tools ( for example Days Sales Outstanding ) can become your ' early warning system ' ahead of a financial Tsunami

of bad news and financial results, often making it even more difficult to achieve busines loan / cash flow solutions.

While buying assets, financing existing assets, and taking on external debt might seem unrelated in some ways the reality is they are very closely intertwined in your overall business financial plan.

You don’t necessarily have to take on debt or take on business term loans to finance working capital - in fact business credit lines, ABL asset based credit lines, or inventory and tax credit financing strategies do that job well.

What is important is to always understand that you will need cash flow financing alternatives to avoid what we can call ' business disruption. And by the way exploring long term financing always takes a lot more time than you might think - whether from a commercial finance company or bank.

So, while ' fun facts' isn’t easily associated with business financing knowing where to turn, and when, is key to business success. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can provide a current and long term road map to financial success.



Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN CASH FLOW FINANCING & BUSINESS LOAN EXPERTISE



Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop

The Equipment Finance Lease In Canada : Eliminating Rough Waters In Asset Financing

You Can’t Handle The Truth About Equipment Leasing In Canada .. Or Can You

Information on asset financing in Canada. What are the advantages and manageable disadvantages of the equipment finance lease for Canadian business financing solutions

The equipment finance lease is by far the most popular method of asset financing in Canada. Although paying for an asset in this matter is ' cash going out ' vs. ' cash going in ' this method of finance allows businesses in Canada to acquire assets and technology needed to run and grow their business. ( Note – Businesses can achieve ‘ cash in’ status via a sale leaseback strategy )

While mostly positive, and we hesitate to use he word ' negative ' there are some issues that need to be understood by the owner/manager. It's all about handling the truth we suppose - let's dig in.

Unless your lease properly reflects the option to own the asset at the end of the term lease financing is all about ' using' an asset. Small to medium size lease financings have some fairly basic issues attached to the documentation; if you don't know the basics of these you can over pay / over spend on lease financing. And by the way, they are all negotiable!

And those basics?

They are:

Amortization term of the lease

Residual

Purchase Option

Termination abilities

For asset financings in the SME Commercial area documentation around lease contracts is fairly simple these days - lessors have strived to eliminate paperwork. Larger transactions and ' Master Lease ' agreements tend to be more complicated.

Many business owners and financial managers don't fully investigate ' operating leases. A good way to understand these is to think of it as a lease for an asset where the life of the lease term is almost always shorter than the expected life of the asset. One of the most common asset classes financed by operating leases is ' Technology / Computers’

While the appeal of the ' off balance sheet ' aspect of operating leases has pretty well bitten the dust it’s still a great way to upgrade, replace and add on to existing tech assets.

While lessors in Canada scream ' benefits ' (flexibility, cash flow, alternate credit sources, tax implications) a more balanced approach is to ensure the potential downside.

Those ' downside' issues include:

Potential non ownership of the asset

Termination costs if you are forced to exit a lease for business reasons

Cost (rates tied to leases are more often than not higher than pure bank loans/borrowings)

When we talk to clients about ' handling the truth ' in those downside issues it’s important to realize they are all manageable and hardly overwhelming if understood at inception.

If you're looking for ' smoother waters' in your equipment finance lease needs seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
who can assist you in matching proper asset financing solutions to your needs.


Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN EQUIPMENT LEASE FINANCE EXPERTISE



Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

CONTACT:

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

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Stan Prokop