Loan Finance And Successful Capital Funding In Canada Shouldn’t Be Weird Science

First And Goal In Business Financing Loans In Canada

OVERVIEW – Information on capital funding in Canada . Loan finance and asset monetization strategies come in a variety of traditional and alternative solutions

Capital funding in Canada, successfully, doesn't have to feel like ' Weird Science ‘. Loan finance solutions , including loans, working capital and cash flow often have the business owner manager feeling like its a ' first and goal ' scenario . Let's examine one thing... doing it right when it comes to financing your business. Let's dig in.

The ability to ' raise money' is one of the key areas of starting, running and growing a business. How though can the owner/manager, who is so focused on daily issues and long term planning get a real leg up in an area they might sometimes not feel 100% uncomfortable in.

If there's any good news in Canadian Business financing its that numerous newer innovations in loan finance and asset monetization is allowing business owners to get ' unstuck ' in this area. They can be forgiven for feeling that cash flow solutions are the ' Bigfoot'

of business - rumored to exist but only experienced by a few!

Canadian chartered banks are among the strongest / best run in the world. Yet thousands of business people spend a lot of time applying for ' bank loans' only to find they cant meet bank criteria for some or all of their capital needs. Those criteria by the way are pretty basic - established business, profitable, clean balance sheet, reasonable debt, profits, and positive cash flow.

In the SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE area the personal credit of the owner is often critical in accessing capital, as the bank or commercial finance firm views that area as critical in repayment or collateral

We're not quite sure that business owners/managers always understand that any level of growth will always bring cash flow challenges. Monetizing assets is a solid way to run/grow business. Accounts receivable are the second most liquid asset on your balance sheet, and numerous A/R financing solutions exist to turn this asset into cash. While the cost is higher than bank credit lines the ability to turn sales into same day cash is persuasive. Solutions such as Confidential Receivable Financing allow your business to bill and collect its own accounts - no notice to clients /suppliers is involved.

Other working capital solutions include:

P O / CONTRACT FINANCING

ASSET BASED LINES OF CREDIT

SR&ED TAX CREDIT FINANCING (if applicable)

INVENTORY FINANCE

SALES/ROYALTY FINANCING

SALE LEASEBACKS

Retailers can access Merchant Advances for cash flow as they typically carry no receivables.

The benefit of cash flow capital funding solutions is that once established, they are predictable when it comes to growing your business and accessing working capital as you need it.

While new of smaller businesses don't really qualify for ' debt financing ' the one solution in this area that is very feasible is the Govt Guaranteed Small Business loan, allowing access for up to 350k of financing for equipment or leasehold improvements.

If you're looking to eliminate that ' weird science' feeling in accessing loan finance solutions that make sense and are truly achievable consider seeking and speaking to a trusted , credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your capital funding needs . For the first time ' first and goal' actually seems attainable!



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 BUSINESS LOAN FINANCE SOLUTIONS 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

SR ED Financing : What You’re Missing In Sred Tax Credit Finance Loans

The True Tragedy Of SR&ED Claims Is Waiting ! Until Now

OVERVIEW – Information on sred tax credit finance loans in Canada . SR ED financing is the monetization of research credits for effective use of cash flow and working capital




SRED tax credit finance loans eliminate the pain of... waiting... for your refundable tax credit under Canada’s ' Scientific Research & Experimental Research' program. SR ED financing can quickly and efficiently complete the cycle in your firms R&D strategy. Let's dig in.

The Canadian SR&ED program is categorically one of the most solid initiatives in helping the private sector finance economic growth. Given that in the recent years the program has been scaled back a bit (less % credits = less refund cheque) the ability to maximize, and monetize the total benefit of the program is key.

Remember also that the program is a combination of co-operation from both federal and provincial governments, depending on which province your firm originates. SR ED financing by the way finances both parts of the claim at the same time - federal and provincial.

It goes without saying that the actual quality of your claim is key in both initial approval under the program as well as one consideration in financing approval. While the smallest per cent age of firms still prepare their own claims (and in many cases are successful) the vast majority of refund claims are prepared by qualified independent SR& ED consultants. They may be associated with the large C.A. / Accounting firms, or in a lot of cases are simply independent contractors.

While in the past these consultants were ' behind the scenes ' they are now clearly up front, including being identified on your claim, as well as having to state their remuneration on claims preparation. (The majority of SR ED consultants prepare claims at their expense and time, choosing to take a % of the successful claim as their ' fee'.

Since SRED Tax Credit Finance Loans are in effect short term bridge loans it makes total sense for business owners/managers to ensure their claim has taken advantage of govt offerings such as ' pre claim ' approval . Naturally any claim of good quality that doesnt even necessitate and audit is a good thing. Suffice to say the govt is on record as saying that claims they consider ' high risk ' will be audited and scrutinized with more vigor.

Let's get back to basics - i.e. the financing of your claim. It's possible to receive financing approval in a matter of days based on a simple application process that identifies your firm, its business, a copy of your claim, and details on who prepared it.

Business owners/managers seem always open to some good news - in the case of SR ED financing it's good to know that claims can be financing even prior to final filing... and if that wasn't enough next years claim financing can commence almost immediately. That’s cash flow acceleration 101!

SR&ED loans are structured as short term bridge loans - no payments are made by your company for the duration of the loan. Loan advances are typically 70% of the total amount of your combined federal and prov. claim.

If you're looking to eliminate a true business tragedy (waiting for a govt refund chq ! ) 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 r&d tax credit finance request.



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 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

Business Loan And Capital Needs In Canada : First Hand Tips On Loans

From Scared Amateur To Successful Business Loan Recipient – Here’s How

OVERVIEW – Information on successful capital raising in Canada . Getting a business loan boil down to these issues . Secrets and common sense on loans for Canadian businesses

Business loan chances of success in Canada can be significantly improved, both in variety of options and success when the business owner/financial manager has some basics down. That changes the ' amateur ' to the ' pro ' when it comes to financing your business in the Canadian marketplace. Let's dig in.

Although larger corporations, both private and public don’t often require personal guarantees of owners that certainly isn’t the case in the SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE area. In fact both the actual issue of the guarantee and the personal credit history of the business owner/owners will affect both rate and overall approval potential in the majority of ' traditional ' ( aka ' the bank ' ) financing .

Business owners are encouraged to ensure they can convey their personal financial issues in a manner that both protects themselves to a degree as well as helps in getting financing approval at good rates. It common for owners to try and avoid pledging personal assets - in effect separating their business and personal finances - and that's a good thing!

The concept of ' Collateral ‘is critical to business loan success. In many cases it’s either a key ' requirement ' or in some cases a ' driver ' of successful capital resolution.

It's important to differentiate between different types of assets - in certain cases its fixed assets/equipment; in other cases your collateral is your working capital accounts. These are receivables, inventory, and any tax credits that might be financeable. (The most common tax credit financed is the SR&ED refundable tax credit). Don't forget also that purchase orders and contracts are financeable under the right circumstances.

What type of ' business loan' finances new or existing assets? It could be a bank term loan; a Govt guaranteed Small business loan, or even a bridge loan that is supported by hard assets. An equipment lease is not a ' loan ' per se but is always financing hard assets, including technology. The Government Small business loan provides up to 350k in asset and leasehold financing to thousands of businesses in Canada every year.

And those ' Current Assets' on your balance sheet. Financing of those should be done via:

A/R Financing

Bank revolving credit lines

Asset based non bank business lines of credit

SR&ED Tax credit financing

If there is one ' tip ' around loans its understanding the concept of cash flow. Proving you have positive cash flow allows you to be eligible for unsecured cash flow loans. Business plans you might prepare to show the merits of loan financing to your business must include an emphasis on cash flow generation, and repayment ability.

The ability to recognize and identify the type of financing your firm is eligible for is key to capital funding success. It also saves a lot of wasted time. Identifying the right ' traditional' or in some cases ' alternative ' lender in a timely and credible fashion is key. A good analogy is that you wouldn’t go to a fast food restaurant expecting ' haute cuisine ' food and service

If you're looking to change ' amateur' to ' pro ' status in business loan and asset finance 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 capital 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 :



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

Commercial Financing Loans From Finance Companies In Canada : Heres Your New Rules

Super Rare Shouldn’t Be Your Description Of Commercial Financing Loans From Finance Companies & Banks

OVERVIEW – Information on commercial financing in Canada. Loans from finance companies and banks are attainable with this information

Commercial financing in Canada , if you're an owner/manager in the SME Commercial area is often dubbed as ' Super Rare '! Finance companies and banks offer a multitude of traditional and alternative loans depending on various business needs. We're covering off some of the ' new rules ' around successful Canadian business financing. Let's dig in.


As we've noted, lending to businesses in the SME (small to medium enterprise) sector seems to only happen in those TV commercials and print advertisements.

The reality though is that with some proper homework and expert assistance numerous new business financing solutions are available to run or grow your business.

For the most part the owner/manager has to reconcile to the fact that although Canadian chartered banks maintain their willingness to lend to your firm the reality quite often is that your business can't satisfy the criteria needed to achieve proper, low cost, and flexible bank financing .

Let's examine some key factors around bank loans and other commercial financing solutions. One of those is sales,

or lack thereof.

Revenues are a key driver in your ability to access business credit. Many start ups that are pre revenue or who have little revenues will find it exceedingly difficult to achieve traditional financing. It's those revenues that will create cash flow that’s mandated by banks.

Yet early stage firms can still access numerous loans from commercial finance companies. One ' hybrid' solution is the Canada Govt Small Business Guaranteed Loan Program, providing up to 350k for the purchase of assets or even leasehold improvements to your business. The ' Guaranteed ' terminology revolves around the fact that the Federal government guarantees the majority of the loan to your bank,

Canada's non brick and mortar federal crown corporation bank also provides working capital term loans and asset financing that is often complimentary to a total finance solution you require.

Other solutions that can monetize your assets into valuable cash flow include:

A/R Financing

Inventory Finance

SR&ED Tax Credit Monetization

Purchase Order Finance

Equipment Financing

Asset based business credit lines


The ability to demonstrate loan repayment is best demonstrated via a solid business plan and cash flow forecast - with emphasis on the ' cash flow ' part, not meteoric sales projections that resemble a hockey stick.

While many firms can be self financing to a certain degree at a certain point the right amount of debt , aka ' leverage ' will help grow the business faster .
A good example of ' good debt ' is equipment leasing, where certain assets you need can help you substantially grow revenues or decrease expenses.

If you're looking to ensure you've got the ' New Rules ' down on both traditional or alternative financing solutions , and you want to eliminate ' super rare' from your commercial financing thoughts seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with key needs.




Stan Prokop -

7 Park Avenue Financial :

Business Credit Line Needs : Understanding The ABL Loan Facility Solution

Business Credit Line Needs : Understanding The ABL Loan Facility Solution


OVERVIEW – Information on the ABL facility loan in Canada . This business credit line alternative is becoming more popular . Here is why including benefits and potential drawbacks because .. business is a balancing act

Business credit line needs in Canada sometimes require a ' gear change '

when things arent working enough, or... at all. One solution and alternative is the ABL facility loan, somewhat unknown or misunderstood by many business owners and financial managers in Canada. Let's dig in.

Asset based lenders are somewhat of the ' new frontier' for satisfying borrowing needs for Canadian business owners and financial managers. While traditionally at a higher cost than bank borrowing the good news is that in almost all cases these credit lines have rates that are becoming more attractive , if for the only reason that Canadian chartered banks realize that business borrowers have more and more alternative solutions available.

Is there a ' simple ' way to understand the Asset based business line of credit? We think there is, and it's simply to understand the ' collateral' focus is ' Assets ‘. They most often are: Receivables, Inventory, Equipment... and occasionally real estate. From the bank perspective the main qualifiers for a credit line are: Cash flow / clean balance sheets/profits. Those arent always permanently achievable as most owners/mgrs realize.

As far as the uses of an ABL facility go they include daily operational financing, growing a business. Two other uses are commonly buying another business or simply a consolidation of debt... if that makes sense.
More often than not it’s not a permanent facility, as many clients for whatever reason deem Canadian banks as their preferred lender.

Is size important? We suppose it depends but smaller facilities typically start in the 250k range, and as far as upper borrowing limit there essentially is none. Typically a ' due diligence' type fee is associated with such a loan / credit line that is based on size, risk, uniqueness of the industry, etc.

One of the strong appeals of the Asset based business credit line is that borrowing margins are more attractive. Typical ranges are 90% for receivables and anywhere from 30-70% on inventory. Firms with an investment in fixed assets can borrow on a revolving basis on the liquidation value of equipment/fixed assets.

True asset based loans tend to be ' non covenant ' in nature and don’t come with the ratio and covenants associated with a bank credit line. If there is one downside to the ABL facility it’s that reporting on your business is more rigorous - that must be balanced against borrowing power and access to capital.

If your company wants to ' change gears ' on the type of revolving credit facility that might make more sense seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can help you understand one of the ' new frontiers' in business finance in Canada.



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 :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/business-credit-line-abl-loan-facility.html







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

Start Up Business Loans In Canada : Analyzing Startup Financing

Looking For A Second Opinion On Start Up Financing In Canada ?

OVERVIEW – Information on start up business loans in Canada . Startup financing comes with numerous challenges . Here are alternatives to the entrepreneurs’ funding obstacles

Start up business loans in Canada solicits strong opinions from Canadian entrepreneurs / business people. A large part of that opinion revolves around the challenges and frustration facing startup financing needs. That's where a 2nd opinion might just help... let's dig in.

The majority of startups, in the mind of the entrepreneur, require ' loans ‘. While not always the case (and we'll talk about that) the harsh reality is that Canadian chartered banks rarely provide self standing start up loans. Why is that the case? One of the reasons is simply historical failure rates in this type of venture; the other reason is even more basic: firms in business with a history have a better survival chance.

We sometimes forget our banks our regulated and are protecting our deposits at the same time they are lending. Larger more established lending opportunities represent larger more predictable bank profits.

So where do entrepreneurs typical go when they are raise capital? Top experts tell us those funds come from:

- Personal Equity
- Bank loans (Supported by personal collateral!)
- The proverbial friends and family
- Credit cards (business, and unfortunately - personal)

So what then are the ' realistic' options for entrepreneurs? Personal equity is always important, and any traditional or alternative finance solution will probably demand some level of personal investment. We'll add also that some level of reasonable personal credit history is an important part of the start up equation. Personal credit bureau scores of 650 are desirable.

Every adult should know their credit score.


Suffice to say that partial of full personal guarantees are required for any type of initial financing of the business.

The Canadian Govt Small Business loan is perfectly suited for start ups - it provides financing for loans up to 350k for equipment and leasehold improvements. Close to 8000 start up and relatively new businesses access this capital in Canada every year.

Other financing sources include:

Leasing companies

Tax Credit Financiers (typically SR&ED claims are financed)

Invoice financing companies

Revenue / Royalty based finance options

We wish we had a dollar for every hr. some of our clients spent chasing VC/PRIVATE EQUITY/CAPITAL POOL solutions which are in truth only attainable for less than 1% of all start ups . Having a business plan that focuses on cash flow and repayments, not ' hockey stick ' sales projections also helps!

While many business folks search for ' 1 ' solution for their start up financing needs in Canada the more proper approach is to cobble together a solution from multiple traditional or alternative sources . 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 start up business loans that make particular sense for 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 STARTUP FINANCING 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

Receivable Financing Services In Canada : The Power OF A Receivables Company Solution For Your Business

Receivable Financing Services Might Just Be The Buried Treasure Your Firm Is Looking For

OVERVIEW – Information on solutions from a Receivables Company In Canada : Receivable Financing Services Might Be The Right Solution for Working Capital Needs

Receivable Financing Services are one of the most popular working capital and cash flow alternatives today for Canadian business. Receivables company solutions are a solid alternative to the Canadian chartered bank offering - the 'business line of credit '. Let's dig in.

It's not hard to see why business owners/financial managers are mesmerized by the lure of bank facilities - they are low cost, have some solid flexibility. The problem? Getting approved! Essentially it's all about the credit standards set by our banks.

Receivable financing services are alternatively served by a true ' Receivables Company '. They just might be the ' buried treasure ' owners/managers are looking for. These commercial firms fill the ' need gap ‘, albeit at a higher cost. It should be no secret then that the key collateral is simply the business assets of the company, specifically A/R.

Receivable Finance, aka ' factor financing ' - its not ' equity ' or 'debt' financing, its simply monetizing your sales for the business life blood - cash flow.

Financing costs for A/R financing vary widely , and are typically in the 1.25 - 2% per month range These costs though can be truly be significantly offset in a number of ways -

- Your business can negotiate better pricing on product and services because of new found cash availability

- The business can now afford to take valuable supplier discounts for prompt payment, which themselves are often 2%!

- Less sophisticated owners do not always take into account the actual cost they incur to ' carry a/r’

- Larger commercial or govt contracts can be taken on with the knowledge sales can be financed

In our own experience meeting and talking to clients the actual 'needs' of the business become blurred - as the business owner / manager often co-mingles other needs such as equipment , property, inventory .

The best way to view A/R solutions is along the lines of short term operating needs.

There are some distinct advantages to a commercial A/R financing facility. One of them is simply borrowing power, as typical advances are 90% of outstanding A/R, significantly better than the bank 75% ratio. The best use of a facility is when you have an ongoing facility based on the ebb and flow of sales and A/R collections

There are some other solutions out there that might be worth investigating - they include Revenue based finance, which simply allocates a portion of all sales as your borrowing base. In the smaller end of the market, i.e. small businesses and retailers/restaurants ' Merchant Advance ' solutions are popular. They simply monetize future sales - today.

Top experts will tell you that the best use of non bank commercial financing is for business growth - in the majority of cases they are the ' bridge ' back to traditional financing and common timeframes for utilizing this type of service is a year or two.

One of the best A/R factoring solutions is ' CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVABLE FINANCE ‘, allowing you to bill and collect your own invoices without any notification to others - least of all your competitors .

If you're looking to explore the potential ' power '

of a Receivables company 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 working capital 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 A/R 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