Factoring Finance – Don’t Make This Mistake when Considering a Factoring Program in Canada

Factoring finance in Canada continues to get strong positive traction as a financing tool for Canadian business. In fact, and we see more of this everyday, a once alternative financing vehicle with negative connotations is now a mainstream form of business financing in Canada with positive connotations!

So what changed that, and what is the one mistake Canadian business owners and financial manager make when entering into a factoring program.

Well first of all, what changed is very clearly too all Canadian business owners, financing has become a major challenge for funding future growth and profits. Therefore all forms of business financing should be considered by every business owner and financial manager.

Let’s get back to the subject of our article – what is the single biggest mistake you can make when considering a factoring facility. The answer is:

Entering into a factoring program without understanding how it works and the limitations of the program! That’s a broad comment so let’s get right into what mistakes clients make when we sit down with them and work towards a solid factoring and working capital facility that makes sense for their firm.

First of all, you should not consider factoring as a ‘loan ‘per se. Also, it’s not the same as how a Canadian chartered bank would run such a facility, if your firm was eligible for bank financing. When you enter into a factoring program you are selling your receivables – however under a true bank arrangement you are collateralizing your receivables and borrowing against them. That’s a big difference.

So, clients ask, if we are selling our receivables, how much do we get? Well the reality is that is one of the major mistakes uninformed clients make when they enter into such a facility. Some firms in the marketplace will hold back part of the receivables they fund, but your pricing will be based on the total sale of the receivable or the group of receivables you are financing. Also, whats the cost of factoring?

Most clients make the mistake of focusing totally on price when it comes to factoring – yes that’s important , but at the same time, the way your facility is structured and how it operates on a day to day basis can be many times more important that ‘ price .

Speaking of price the reality is that most customer equate price in receivable financing as an annual interest rate. The industry actually does not view it this way, preferring to call the sale of the receivable a ‘discount ‘to its original value.

We can talk all day about that one, but if you are in fact focused on price you need to understand the per diem rate you are paying everyday that receivable is uncollected. How that rate is communicated to you, and when the rate terminate on collection is one of the single most expensive errors you can omit to research when working on a receivables financing facility.

In summary, our boy scout motto of ‘be prepared ‘is highly appropriate to a factoring financing program. Work with a trusted, credible and experienced advisor who can guide you through the technical maze of factoring to ensure you side step our warning around entering into a facility that is not properly priced or explained to your firm with respect to overall cash flow impact and day to day dealings on your receivables . After all, your receivables are more often than not your largest financial asset – doesn’t it make sense to understand what type of financing you place around this asset? We think it does.

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

Inventory Loans – Financing Inventory Assets

Inventory loans or the financing of your inventory as a component of working capital are critical to the success of your business if your firm has a strong inventory component in working capital.

Inventory is one of the two components of working capital – the other is of course receivables. More often than not the receivable asset is typically larger, on a monthly basis than the inventory assets – but some firms based on the nature of what they do have a very heavy investment in inventory.

Inventory converts into receivable which convert into cash. We all know that. The crux of the matter though is the time in which this happens. Your ability as a manufacturer, wholesaler, etc to purchase inventory, re work it , bill your customer, and then, ( unfortunately ) wait for your account receivable to get paid in many cases can take 2-3 month . The financial analysts call this whole process the cash conversion cycle – the only way you can slow that cycle down and improve cash flow is, unfortunately, to delay payments to suppliers as long as you can . That’s not a desirable operating strategy.

Inventory financing and inventory loans work best when they are often within the context of a true asset based lending arrangement for a combination of inventory and receivables. However the bottom line is as we have stated - financing in this critical area of business financing is available, it’s specialized, but when properly put in place can significantly grow sales and profits.

So is there a solution. There is of course, and in Canada it is a highly specialized solution involving the financing of inventory as a key driver to improve your cash flow and working capital. If done properly you do not incur extra term debt – the reality is that all you are doing is ‘monetizing ‘inventory to generate additional cash flow and working capital for your growth and profits.

One or two critical challenges continually obstruct our client’s ability to properly monetize their working capital. Let’s examine some of those challenges and determine how they can be overcome.

The first challenge is simply that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain inventory financing from traditional sources such as the Canadian chartered banks. In fairness to our friends at the banks it simply is difficult for them to properly value and monitor and understand each company’s different inventory financing needs and the cash cycle around that inventory that we have discussed. One further technical issue arises here, which is simply that if your firm has an operating lender in place that lender has probably, sometimes unknowing to yourself, taken a security on the inventory as a part of their security agreement. That‘s not optimal, your inventory is collateralized, but you don’t receive any funding or margining against it.

We meet with many clients who are in this position, and need to work with them to unravel their current financing to properly allow for the monetization of their inventory via an inventory loan or margining facility.

Inventory financing in Canada is specialized – as we’ve noted. We strongly recommend you seek and work with a trusted, credible, and experienced advisor in this area .What are the benefits of such a relationship. First of all your inventory will be properly ‘understood ‘and valued, allowing you to borrow against its value accordingly. It is an unwritten but generally acceptable rule that most banks lend approximately 40% against inventory assets. Two points here – if you can get bank financing on inventory and get that 40% advance we would pretty well recommend you take it ; however if that becomes insurmountable, as it does for most clients, you actually can get anywhere from 40-75% from a true inventory financier .

Are there any special requirements to get proper inventory financing? In general no – a standard business financing application applies, and you must be able to demonstrate, preferable via a perpetual inventory system , that you can account for and report on your inventory on hand, usually on a monthly, but perhaps on a weekly basis .

If your business relies heavily on inventory as a key component for sales and profit growth consider the structuring of a proper inventory financing arrangement either separately or within the context of a true asset based lending or working capital facility .

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

Financing films via Film Tax Credits

Financing film, television and animation projects could hardly be described by an outsider as risk free, but in the current Canadian environment the non repayable tax credits and your ability to finance and monetize them are about as close as we can get to any from of risk free financing.

The current generous tax incentives provided by federal and provincial governments in Canada assist productions as an integral part of the overall financing strategy that any project employs.

Film, TV, and animation projects are financed in exactly the same manner as any type of business financing in Canada – by that we mean there is an equity component, and a debt component. It is of course incumbent on the owners to determine the optimal amount, or ‘mix ‘of owner capital and borrowed funds. The financing of tax credits is a part of the overall debt side of the production, but it is critical to note that the financing of your tax credit is not a debt or a loan – it is simply the monetization of the tax credit that is owed to you by the government. You are essentially factoring, or monetizing that asset.

Let’s use a quick example of a production that is financed, say for a million dollars. You as the owner assume a 500k equity position and the other 50% will come from international distribution and pre –sales. Your tax credit on the production could well be in the 400,000.00$ range based on the current generous legislation in place. You have therefore recovered, and are able to utilize a very significant portion of your over all budget.

Financing a tax credit can be done at two different time periods – naturally the logical one is of course at time of filing and final certification .However, many of our clients are surprised to hear that tax credits can be financed on an accrual basis if your project qualifies. The qualifications are for an accrual type financing are not as harsh as one would thing – they are actually common sense qualification. They include your teams experience, successful utilization in the past of tax credits, and, as important your proven ability to budget and document your projects.

We again re iterate that tax credit financing is available for the three major revenue streams of the industry – name film, television, and digital animation – the latter being non existent years ago and becoming more popular all the time with the advent of new media. Growth in these three areas of entertain continues to be explosive and partially resistant to the global economic slowdown.

Hollywood North, aka ‘CANADA ‘continues to view the tax grants available in Canada as a great way to subsidize any projects production cost. The utilization of a tax credit naturally enhances overall equity returns on invested capital, and it is safe to say many productions in film, TV and animation might never see the light of day without the monetization and receipt of tax credits.
Naturally tax credit financing itself is only one component of an overall financing strategy – other components include:

Lease back deals on copyrights

Your ability to pre-sell projects overseas

Product placement

Equity injections

However, it is very safe to say tax credits are an integral component of an entertainment financing strategy.
So how do you finance your tax credit? Clients ask … again we stress common sense fundamentals. Locate a credible, experienced, and trusted advisor in this niche area of business finance. Ensure you have a proper team in place, i.e. accountant, lawyer, etc , preferably with a track record in assisting your documentation and certification of your project .Financing of tax credits can generate anywhere to 40- 80% of your actual or projected tax credit filing . Funds can be used for a general purpose, and are repaid in full when the government clears and pays your tax credit claim. Maintaining proper paperwork and up to date certifications and filings is essential.

We strong recommend a tax credit financing strategy to enhance the overall cash flow and working capital viability of your independent or studio projects in TV, movies and digital animation- talk to a film tax consultant today!

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Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial - http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 6 years - has completed in excess of 45 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .
For information on Canadian business financing - contact details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/financing_films_film_tax_credits.html

Sr&ed Tax Credit Financing – The Only Two Things You Need To Know about sr&ed finance

SR&ED Tax Credit Financing is somewhat misunderstood, or in fact not really considered by many Canadian business owners and financial managers in Canada. We use the word ‘considered ‘simply because many SRED claimants are not aware that their SR&ED claims can be financing as soon as they are filed – in some cases prior to filing!

So let’s return to our topic – what are the two things you need to know about financing your sred tax credit. We’ll keep it simple –

1. You have to have a Sr&Ed claim to obtain financing for the claim!

2. A sred financing claim is in fact similar to any business financing application – frankly it’s quite simpler and more focused!

Is that it? Yes, it’s as simple as that. SR&ED tax credit financing is one of the most unique ways to bring valuable cash flow and working capital back into your firm. Just the very nature of sred itself suggests that your firm relies heavily on the credit to recover the capital you have spent under the government’s quite generous non repayable grant.

So let’s return to our point # 1 – to finance a claim, you need a claim. The SRED program in Canada is the governments rebate; in effect it’s a grant, back to Canadian business for any investment you make in research and development. More and more information is coming out everyday from government and private sources which suggest that many firms who are eligible for the program either aren’t aware of it, or even more disappointing, don’t know how to go about preparing and filing a claim. We are often amazed when some clients infer that it’s ‘too much trouble ‘to prepare a sred claim.

A couple of points can be made on this subject. We have met a small handful, and we repeat small handful! Of clients over the years who prepare their own filings. This of course is possible, legal, and in some business owners minds ‘cost effective. The hard reality is that most firms don’t have the technical and financial know how to complete a claim on their own. (Apologies to the firms which successfully prepare a file their own claims – you know who you are!)

The majority of claims in the sred area are prepared by what is known as sred consultants. We tell clients that these consultants are high specialized, are up to date on current government sred and accounting matters, and in most cases work on contingency – meaning that they prepare the claim at their own risk and time, and charge a fee which is totally based on success of the final claim approval. If Canadian business owners and financial managers don’t choose to pay a contingency fee then they can play a flat rate based on the sred consultant’s time on the claim and filing. Naturally more often than not the sred fee has to be paid as soon as the claim is completed, even if you still have to wait several months to a year to get your funds.

More importantly, as it relates to the financing of the sred claim, a claim tends to be more financeable when it is prepared by a reputable consultant in this area. And in fact when you claim is financed, either at time of filing or prior, the sred consultant can also be paid in full or in part out of the financing.

So the bottom line on our point # 1 is simply – make yourself aware of the program if you are not, prepare a solid claim with the use of a reputable consultant, and be knowledgeable that the claim can be financed during preparation or at time of filing .
Let’s move on to point # 2- Clients ask, is it really that simple to finance a Sr&Ed tax credit. There is only one answer, which is of course yes. You should treat your sred tax credit financing just as any other basic financing. Because this area of Canadian business financing is somewhat of a boutique are you should ensure you are working with a credible, trusted, and experienced advisor in this area.

Let’s cover some of the very simple key basics around the financing of your claim. Most firms are eligible, under the program itself, to receive anywhere from 20-50% of your expenses in the R&D area. Your sred claim will ultimately have a final value, which is made up of the federal and provincial portions combined. Let’s assume its 200,000.00 as an example. You and your accountant have filed your year end financials, and included a sred claim of 200k. What happens now if you want to finance that claim. The reality is that you simply have to fill out a standard business financing application – just as if you were borrowing for any other matter. In our case the ‘collateral ‘, if we can call it that, it’s the sred claim.

Important to note hear that you are not incurring debt or creating a ‘ loan ‘ on the sred – Your balance sheet stays intact, you are simply ‘ monetizing ‘ the sred claim in order to generate working capital and cash flow now . Generally you receive approximately 70% of the claim as an advance, with the 30% held back and payable to yourself in full when you final claim is audited, approved, and that cheque from the government is ‘in the mail ‘! The financing feels itself, associated with the tax credit financing are deducted from that final 30% holdback. You can generally create a sred loan for a period of a minimum of 60 days, but most sred financing generally last from 3-12 months, depending on the size of your claim, its eligibility with CRA, and whether you are a first time filer.

So whats our bottom line – it couldn’t be simpler:

- Make yourself aware of this great program – prepare a proper claim with someone who is experienced
- If you are focused on cash flow and working capital needs consider financing your claim and directly monetizing this great program

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

Franchise Financing In Canada – Three Things You Need To Know

If you were aware of some of the most critical factors in determining franchise financing success in Canada would your chances of entrepreneurial success increase significantly. We thing so, and lets examine what can take you over the top in franchise financing success.

1.Is Franchise Financing Different from other forms of Financing in Canada?

2.How are franchises financed?

3.How much do I need to invest personally and how long does the process take?

We categorically assure our clients that franchise financing is a specialize type of financing in Canada. It is clearly a unique and specialized subset of business financing, and many Canadian entrepreneurs realize sometimes too late that they were ill armed in success negotiation of a business financing during the acquisition of their proposed franchise. One of the positive things we can say about franchise financing is simply that the 2010 economic environment for business financing has improved considerable and franchise lending is clearly in that category . Banks and other institutions have clearly recognized that the environment of downsizing, self employment and the purchase of an exiting successful brand or business all has aligned in the form of a higher level of visibility for franchise loans.When entrepreneurs think of business financing they think in terms of liens of credit, or term loans. Franchise financing is in many ways different because you are either purchasing a new or existing franchise and the components of that purchase vary significantly from that of a regular business financing need.

What are the components of a franchise financing loan and why are they somewhat different? Those components are the franchisee fee, existing or new assets, potential new or existing leaseholds, plus, equally as important, the need for long term working capital to run the business successfully. That is why franchise financing is both different and specialized!

So let’s move on to point # 2 - We agree that franchise financing is specialized in Canada. So how does the entrepreneur finance that new or excising franchise? When we meet with clients we don’t necessarily feel that an existing franchise is either difficult to financing, or in fact requires a different financing strategy. There are financial advantages and disadvantages to financing both new or existing franchises. Some of the key issues we review with clients when contemplating either a new or existing franchise financing are as follows –

How will ‘ goodwill be handled on the balance sheet if your are buying an existing franchise ?

Why is an existing franchise priced higher often thatn a new one -( the answer is of course that the business is even more establishd and has verifiable sales and profits and cash flow .

What will future financing need be vis a vis new or existing franchise purchase – will significant leaseholds or working capital investments be required .

Again, there is no right or wrong answers – just prudent homework and planning .

Franchsies in Canada are financed by personal equity,bank loans, occasional franchisor assistance ( generally not available ), utilization of the government small business loan that is particularly suited to franchises, and , finally, working capital term loans and lease financing .

Will anyone of the above finance your entire purchase . The answer is no. Financing success for your business will be determined by your proper and final mix of the above franchise financing alternatives in Canada.

Let’s move on to our final point – what amount of down payment – we will call it ‘personal equity ‘is required. The answer is that amount will either be mandated by the franchisor or your franchise lender, as well as your own desire and belief to either minimize of maximize your personal investment. When we sit down with clients with strongly focus on a proper mix of all of the above financing mechanism based on the size of the franchise, the asset base ( some businesses are service , and not asset oriented ) and the owner own view of risk and financial rewardwhen it comes to the proper combination of debt and equity financing .

So, in summary, is franchise financing a guaranteed thing in Canada – Definitely not? Can you improve your chances immeasurably by understanding how they are financed, what level of investment you need or should make? Definitely. Work with a trusted, credible and experienced advisor in this area to ensure the financing component of the entrepreneur dream is a key aspect of your overall business planning.

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

Small Business Bank Loans in Canada – Three Things You Need to Know

When looking for a small business bank loan in Canada many business owners and financial managers quickly realize they are treading on very specialized ground. Let’s examine three things you need to know that will allow you to feel that bank financing in Canada is not insurmountable. The general sentiment among small, medium, and in some cases large corporations is that bank financing is both difficult and challenging in the Canadian marketplace.

Let’s examine three key points that will assist most business owners with overcoming obstacles to Canadian bank financing .They are as follows –

1. Are you looking for operating financing or term financing with your bank – there is a difference!

2. Could a popular program subsidized and supported by the Canadian federal government be the solution to your working capital needs

3. What are the minimum requirements to obtain specialized bank financing

A line of credit or a bank term loan? Is there a difference. There definitely is! If you are looking to either purchase an asset or expand your business your focus should be on the preparation of sufficient data to support that financing request. We feel strong that to be considered for such financing you probably should have an established relationship with the bank already, either on a personal or a corporate basis. It would also help if you had already established some form of operating facility. A bank term loan to acquire an asset, or perhaps make an acquisition comes with a fixed repayment and term, typically five years. You should only consider a bank term loan if you feel you can demonstrate enough financial stability or growth potential. In many cases we recommend to clients that we also sit down with the banker and share some our long term plans and prospects – in many cases discussion can be started around the future acquisition of assets of even a competitors business.

In many cases your firm simply needs an operating facility. If you are an established business, have growth and profit potential, and a relatively clean balance sheet you are in a position to negotiate an operating facility for receivables. Typical facilities margin your receivables at 75% and inventory typically might come in at 40%. We encourage clients to carefully discuss what we will call ‘bulge needs ‘with your banker. This is in many cases where the client and bank relationship falls apart, because the business owner assumes that the bank will support increased temporary needs for the business. If you take your annual revenues and divide by 12 your monthly sales are XX $. However most business owners know sales growth comes in spurts based on incoming orders, contracts, and yes, even the seasonality of your business or industry. Preparing and supplying either a business plan or cash flow projections are invaluable tools to gain credibility wit your banker, and, by the way, you’ll understand your business better.

Let’s move on to point # 2. We tell clients the best bank loan in Canada is not really from the bank! What do we mean by that? The answer is a BIL. And of course our clients ask ‘What’s a BIL ‘! That is the technical name for a bank loan that is both financed and subsidized and guaranteed by the federal government. Many business owners simply refer to the program as the SMALL BUSINESS LOAN from the government.

The banks in Canada administer this program and we feel by far it’s the best solution for small and medium business in Canada when it comes to a bank loan. The key things you need to know are that the loan only covers two things – equipment and leasehold improvements. Well actually its three things, as real estate can be included also. The real estate limit was recently in the past year bumped up to 500,000.00$ dollars, which is a great way to acquire your facility.

Terms of this loan are as good as it gets a rate of 3% over prime, limited owner guarantees, and flexible terms and payback. We spend a lot of time with clients explain this program and ensuring they take advantage of if when they can. Most business owners are disappointed to hear that this facility does not cover cash loans, and that it is not an operating line of credit, but a term loan.

Bank term loans have been the means of assisting many companies to grow, as well as allow continued operations during a temporary but anticipated slump. As one of the most common types of loans on the market, banks often offer competitive rates for a bank term loan. Any business that is thinking about the possibility of taking out a bank term loan would do well to shop around for the best rate and conditions possible.

Let’s move on to our final point. By understanding the key requirements of bank financing you can significantly improve your chances of approval success. Work with a trusted, credible and experienced advisor in commercial bank financing origination. Being properly prepared with historical financials, a business plan, a cash flow forecast, and a bio of owner experience improves your chances ten fold of arranging bank financing in Canada. As a footnote, we have always strongly believed it’s the banker, not the bank, so seek out with assistance a bank who has a strong interest in getting your business and growing with you on a long term basis.

Bank financing in Canada – possible? Yes . Probable? No guarantees of course, but your chances of financing success improve considerable as soon as you adopt that old boy scout motto – be prepared !

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

Loans for Working Capital - Two Things Canadian Business Owners Need to Know

The search for loans for working capital, and relating financing needs tends to be never ending for Canadian business owners and financial managers. Let’s examine two key aspects of working capital financing in Canada.

1. Working capital needs are both short term and long term – Which solution does your firm need?

2. Once your company has determined the type of working capital you need what are your options and how to do pursue those successfully and in the least amount of time?

We’ve stated that working capital is both a short term and a long term need. Let’s examine that key point. When we talk to clients about working capital needs it becomes apparent they are often confused by ‘textbook issues ‘as compared to real world issues. The textbook of course tells us that working capital is a simple calculation – go to your balance sheet, subtract current liabilities from current assets, and , voila! There’s your working capital. The perfect answer, right? The reality is that business owners must consider two key elements not often covered off in the textbook – they are

- What is the right amount of working capital for my firm based on historical, current and future needs – is it a temporary need or a short term need. Also, turnover of current assets is critical and many Canadian business owners and financial managers don’t know how to measure turnover. Recall our textbook definition of working capital as stated above. The reality is that if you have a large number that’s working capital goodness, right? Not necessarily, because if those assets of accounts receivable and inventory aren’t turning then your working capital is sluggish and your investment is the buildup f those key assets are in fact significantly impaired.

We’re talking about short term needs vs. long term needs as we have stated. You may have had historically enough cash flow for working capital to satisfy your overall sales growth needs. But what if you have a large new order or contract you need to fulfill. That more often than not necessitates a short term need for cash flow to fulfill purchase orders, contracts, etc.

So what have we learned – simply that working capital can be measured - however it has to be analyzed with respect to your firms ability satisfy current and future revenue needs . Clients we talk to often have trouble understanding the working capital dilemma, which is simply that your sales and profits are not necessarily tied to your cash flow. Determining that too late is usually a painful experience for most of our clients.

So how can we ‘alleviate the pain ‘? Let’s move on to point number two, which is what options are available to Canadian business owners seeking working capital financing.

Two options are in fact available for your firm when considering a working capital solution. One of those options is to take on more debt, and enter in a working capital term loan – this is simply a cash term loan with a fixed repayment and term – typically three to five years. For larger firms this might be called subordinated debt, or mezzanine financing, but for smaller and medium sized companies in Canada we can simply say ‘it’s a working capital loan ‘! This type of financing puts permanent working capital into your business and allows you to feel comfortable that you can meet short term obligations such as lease payments, etc. If there is a disadvantage to this type of financing its simply that in reality you are adding more debt to the balance sheet, as the working capital loan is debt .

Does working capital always have to be additional debt? Definitely not. The other solution is to monetize your working capital assets. By working with an experienced, trusted, and credible working capital advisor you can monetize current assets such as receivables, inventory, and equipment, without taking on further debt. Yes you are leveraging those assets, but the reality is that your balance sheet rations still stay intact. For smaller and medium sized firms in Canada these solutions come under several names, working capital facilities, asset based lines of credit, or even a standard operating line of credit with a Canadian chartered bank that allows you to margin receivables and inventory .

In summary, we have covered off the need for business owners to determine what type of working capital they need, albeit short term or long term . Solutions available come in the forms of working capital term loans, or, perhaps a more attractive option, the monetization of those working capital accounts to leverage cash flow.

Focus on your working capital needs, determine the best solution, and obtain expert advice on the best method of increasing cash flow for your firm for current and future needs.
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Stan Prokop is founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial - http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Originating business financing for Canadian companies and specializing in working capital, cash flow, and asset based financing . In business 6 years the company has completed in excess of 45 Million dollars of financing for Canadian corporations .
For information on Canadian business financing and contact details please see :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/LOANS_FOR_WORKING_CAPITAL_CANADA.html