Get A Cash Flow Solution In Place For Working Capital Financing – Your 2011 New Year Resolution

What if... just what if you could eliminate your working capital financing issues via a cash flow solution that works as you head into 2011 and beyond? That surely is the wish of most, if not all Canadian business owners and financial managers.

The reason you need that working capital is of course to pay of all your short term obligations in a timely manner. Typically those are accounts payable and items such as lease or loan payments, and of course we're including payroll and salary obligations in there.

As a business owner you need to be aware of whether your overall working capital position is stable, declining, or even increasing. There are some very simple measurements to assess overall situation. One of the most basic measures is simply to monitor sales growth against those current assets. Quick example - if your sales are growing by 20% per annum but you determine your receivables and inventory have grown to 35% of their former values, then, guess what, you have a working capital solution need . No surprise there, as most business managers intuitively know the strains that working capital needs place on a business.

Unlocking. That’s the key to a cash flow solution. What do we mean by that? Simply that you have to do two things to unleash the cash flow that is invested in your business in the form or receivables and inventory. First, you have to improve turnover. That’s an internal thing, and we can’t help our clients on that one, you have to do it yourself. Collect receivables faster, be more diligent in extending credit terms, and control your inventory.

Secondly, and here’s where are clients do ask for external help, is the need to ' monetize ' working capital accounts. How can that are done. The most common solution is bank financing via an operating line of credit for A/R and inventory that would address working capital financing needs.

But most business in Canada today, certainly in the small and medium sized sectors can’t access all the bank financing they need. if at all .

In business you achieve positing working capital financing via profits which fund growth, borrowing on a long term debt basis ( not our favorite!), or selling assets .. Again the latter not our favorite.

What is our favorite then?! It is, as we said, monetizing current assets. You do this via a working capital facility that margins A/R and inventory properly. These facilities, when combined with the inventory component, makes sense for firms with monthly a/r and inventory balances in excess of 250k. When that amount is less than 250k a receivable financing strategy is required. Our favorite is confidential invoice financing or discounting, which we feel is the ultimate cash flow solution. It allows you to bill and collect your own receivables and turns your firm into a cash flow machines readily able to handle all manner of sales growth.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor - he or she will help you pinpoint the working capital challenges and focus on a specific solution that makes sense for your firm. That’s a solid New Year resolution for your business that is achievable.

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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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Is a Leasing Company Your Best Choice For Business Equipment Financing – Choose Business Leasing That Makes Sense !

Common sense financing, fast approvals and flexibility that makes perfect sense for your firm - that’s why when you want to lease business equipment a leasing company is your best choice for business leasing financing.

If we were to ask you to name ten quick benefits of any type of business financing in Canada we quite frankly cant imaging you would name any other type of finance other then leasing . Just think about it.

Ten, yes ten solid reasons to consider a leasing company for your right choice of asset finance. Lets recap them - technological obsolescence protection, accounting benefits, cash flow management, potential tax savings, the right to own or not own the asset at the end of the lease, convenience, ability to match the asset financing to its useful economic life, quick credit approval ( boy do we like that one !) and finally often a lower cost and cash outflow .

Whew! That was a mouthful of reasons. Let’s circle back on one of those benefits, the issue of a prompt credit approval.

Canadian business financing got really challenging in the last couple years. Traditional financial institutions that funded equpment such as banks and insurance companies quite frankly simply stopped funding your business leasing needs. The leasing company you probably worked with also borrows, just in case you didn’t realize it. Somehow we all survived and as we head into 2011 the equipment financing industry is on a pretty good roll.

We keep coming back to flexibility when clients ask us about what the best choice options are in business leasing. Always remember that when you choose to finance an asset you can enter into a lease to own scenario, aka a 'capital lease ' , or, continuing on our theme of flexibility, you can opt for an operating lease - which simply states your desire to use an asset, not own it . Equpment that depreciates quickly, needs to be replaced due to technology, etc, is the perfect choice for an operating lease option.

Asset financing from your business comes out of very different needs - it might be a photocopier for the office, (or computers), equipment for your shop floor, and, even a commercial jet for your corporate meetings! (Well, we can dream , cant we?!). Our point is simply that any type of asset can be leased, and often bundled in with other ancillary services such as installation, maintenance, warranty, etc. Again, there’s our flexibility again.

Do you have a personal business relationship with the hundreds of lease companies in Canada? If you do we're jealous, and you obviously have a lot of time on your hands. If you don’t, speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can ensure those many benefits of business leasing can be matched with the leasing company that suits your needs.
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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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


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

The Only Disadvantage Of Factoring Receivables And Why Confidential Accounts Receivable Finance Works!

Looking for a creative, ‘outside the box’ Canadian business financing solution? You may have investigated factoring receivables already but either didn’t understand how accounts receivable financing works, or, probably more to the point weren’t comfortable with how it works for your firm on a daily basis.

We've got the perfect solution for those worries, and its called confidential receivable financing, in Europe its more commonly known as C I D, confidential invoice discounting .

Let's examine why this type of business financing works in general, and then let's focus in on why our solution makes a solid solution even better.

In general terms when you 'factor ' your receivables you essentially sell them to the factoring firm. That can be done on a one of basis, on a periodic basis, or all the time. That’s one of the key advantages of this type of financing, you only use what you need, and... More importantly, you only pay for what you use!

Paying for what you use in accounts receivable financing is key because factoring, in general terms can be a more expensive type of financing. We say ' can be ' because quite frankly if you use it properly it actually could be a cheaper method of financing than your bank. That's a point our clients are always amazed at when we discuss this type of Canadian business financing.

The cost of factoring receivables can be significantly offset, or in some cases removed completely by your firm using these funds to take supplier discounts and purchase more efficiently and at better prices .

And... Think about this carefully, if you can finance your receivable the days you issue the invoice (that’s what factoring does) then you are in a position to generate funds to sell more products and services to your customers, generating additional margins and profits. Or, of course, you could take the non factoring approach and wait for your customers to pay you in 30, 60, or... dare we say it, 90 days. And that hasn’t worked for you in the past, which is why you are looking for a better solution.

So lets examine how factoring works, and lets get you over the hump, so to speak, on why our preferred type of accounts receivable financing is confidential invoice discounting .

When you generate an invoice under a factoring receivables agreement you receive 90% of the invoice in the form of immediate funds the same day. The other 10% is a holdback, and is remitted back to you promptly when you customer pays, less the financing charges, which are typically 1.5 - 2% for a 30 day period.

In 99% of traditional factoring arrangements the factor company verifies your invoice with your customer and actually collects it. Under confidential invoice discounting you bill and collect your own receivables, and are in a position to finance your firm without your customers and suppliers having anything to do with how you finance your business.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on why confidential accounts receivable financing will work for your firm, allowing you to supercharge that cash flow and those profits!

--


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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


http://www.parkavenuefinancial.com/factoring_receivables_accounts_receivable_finance.html

Guess Who’s financing inventory and using purchase order Finance ( P O finance) ? Only Your Competitors – that’s who !

It's time. We're talking about purchase order finance in Canada, how P O finance works, and how financing inventory and contracts under those purchase orders really works in Canada. And yes, as we said, its time... to get creative with your financing challenges, and we'll demonstrate how.

And as a starter, being second never really counts, so Canadian business needs to be aware that your competitors are utilizing creative financing and inventory options for the growth and sales and profits, so why shouldn’t your firm?

Canadian business owners and financial managers know that you can have all the new orders and contracts in the world, but if you can’t finance them properly then you're generally fighting a losing battle to your competitors.

The reason purchase order financing is rising in popularity generally stems from the fact that traditional financing via Canadian banks for inventory and purchase orders is exceptionally, in our opinion, difficult to finance. Where the banks say no is where purchase order financing begins!

It's important for us to clarify to clients that P O finance is a general concept that might in fact include the financing of the order or contract, the inventory that might be required to fulfill the contract, and the receivable that is generated out of that sale. So it’s clearly an all encompassing strategy.

The additional beauty of P O finance is simply that it gets creative, unlike many traditional types of financing that are routine and formulaic.

It’s all about sitting down with your P O financing partner and discussing how unique your particular needs are. Typically when we sit down with clients this type of financing revolves around the requirements of the supplier, as well as your firm’s customer, and how both of these requirements can be met with timelines and financial guidelines that make sense for all parties.

The key elements of a successful P O finance transaction are a solid non cancelable order, a qualified customer from a credit worth perspective, and specific identification around who pays who and when . It's as simple as that.

So how does all this work, asks our clients .Lets keep it simple so we can clearly demonstrate the power of this type of financing. Your firm receives an order. The P O financing firm pays your supplier via a cash or letter of credit - with your firm then receiving the goods and fulfilling the order and contract. The P O finance firm takes title to the rights in the purchase order, the inventory they have purchased on your behalf, and the receivable that is generated out of the sale. It's as simple as that. When you customer pays per the terms of your contract with them the transaction is closed and the purchase order finance firm is paid in full, less their financing charge which is typically in the 2.5-3% per month range in Canada .

In certain cases financing inventory can be arranged purely on a separate basis, but as we have noted, the total sale cycle often relies on the order, the inventory and the receivable being collateralized to make this financing work.

Speak to a credible, trusted and experienced Canadian business financing advisor as to how this type of financing can benefit your firm.

--
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Film Finance via independent film funding and the Canadian Film Tax Credit

Getting your film funding in place. It seemed like a short project and challenge at the time! However most independent film finance becomes somewhat of a journey, and that’s of course an understatement. But the Canadian film tax credit can help you play a huge role in pulling the financing for your project together.



Call it a challenge, call it , as some have, ' tricky' or call it skill, but the monetary part of your film , tv or digital animation project becomes a huge part of the producer and owners direct efforts for successful completion of any project .

We are often amazed at how little it takes, in funding, to complete a professional project in any of our 3 entertainment genres (film, television, and digital animation). Yet even smaller budgets have huge financing challenges when you don’t have the financial backing of a major studio. Therefore your total costs of securing rights, paying actors, and actually producing the project often requires a long timeline.

Enter, at stage left, the Canadian tax credit. This is clearly the savior of many a production that is domiciled in Canada, often paying for 30- 40%, and more of a total production. We certainly not saying the rest of your financing becomes a 'cake walk ' , as the expression goes, but our clients routinely maintain that the additional equity, debt, and co production and distribution agreements are much easier to put in place when you utilize the Canadian tax credit .

Naturally the more film funding you can rise via the film tax credit in Canada, as well as debt you can arrange simply means that you are not diluting your ownership position and therefore positioning you well for any financial success on your project.

Its all about partners in business today, and film finance is no exception. By partnering financially, in the right manner, with either co production agreements or Canadian film tax incentives you are able to maintain proper ownership of your project, and that’s of course what it is all about.

Let’s circle back to the Canadian film tax credit. The credits have become increasingly more generous over the years, and apply to all Canadian provinces where you might choose to shoot, film or product your project - depending on your genre again. By properly budgeting your project in a realistic manner an experienced Canadian film financing consultant can assist you in determining the exact amount of dollar eligibility for your tax credit. The tax credit becomes a part of your financial statement filings for the specific legal entity you have created for your project.

You can then finance the credit, which is a non repayable grant/credit from the government. Naturally you can simply wait for the credit, the ' cheque is in the mail ' so the saying goes, but many of our clients choose to finance the credit as soon as they have it certified. Receiving this funding in advance often creates a huge and positive working capital injection that actually helps finance of course the cost of the film. The tax credit is in essence the collateral for the bridge loan you arrange for the film tax credit itself.

Financing and film funding utilizing your Canadian film tax credit can be accomplished in a manner of weeks, and its all about having a budget, a tax credit calculation, and a firm finance plan that identifies the other parts of your project as complete .

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian film tax credit financing advisor as to how you can maximize your return on investment for your owners and lenders via the film tax credit in Canada. It's a cash flow 101 great strategy!

-

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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


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

How To Qualify For Sred Tax Credit Financing and Why Sr ed Program Cash Flow works!

Get with the Program ! is an oft used term in business that we often hear . Well, a Sred tax credit financing for Sr Ed program cash flow clearly puts you with the program!

Why Canadian business owners and their financial managers don’t take advantage of the SRED (formally the ' Scientific Research and Experimental Development) tax incentive is beyond us. And when they do take advantage of the program and then don’t at least consider financing their tax credit we really wonder about what they are thinking! Because we can assure our clients their competitors are both utilizing the program as well as financing their claims for instant cash flow and working capital needs.

To finance a claim you of course have to have one, so let’s take a small step back and re cap the program. It's simply, bar none in our opinion, the best government grant type program out their, and grant of course means non repayable and we like that even better.

The program has been around now for 30 years and provides Canadian business with billions of dollars of non repayable grants for the work and funds you expend on R&D in Canada. Almost 20,000 firms take advantage of the program annually - that’s a lot but in reality many firms that are eligible apparently don’t - either not knowing about the program or we guess not interested in free funding. If you can believe that!

The sred tax credit financing program allows you to claim for expenses that qualify in equpment, training, parts of your overhead and salaries, as well as of course the core research you do in developing new products and services.

So, you have determined you qualify, and are further interested in both preparing your claim as well as financing it immediately after it is filed. How is that done ?

SR Ed program cash flow arises out of the claim you file. Larger claims mean larger financings - in Canada typically 70% of your total claim can be financed - that typically means for every 100 dollars of claim filed you receive a bridge loan of 70 dollars. Those funds can be used for basically any sort of corporate purpose. We typically encourage clients to consider using the funds for general working capital, reduction in payables, equipment acquisition, and, who could forget, more research and development to stay ahead of your competitors in the market place.

Good sr Ed claims are usually prepared by qualified sr Ed consultants that know your industry. They maximize your claim and their credentials add professionalism to the viability of your claim being approved in totality. Even if the claims are clawed back the program managers in Ottawa it still of course makes sense to file a claim.

To successfully complete a sred tax credit financing you simply complete a basic business application and provide details of your filed sr Ed. The claim itself is of course the collateral for the bridge loan. Sr Ed program cash flow makes sense because you are simply monetizing a receivable (the sr Ed claim itself) and taking advantage of using non repayable cash now, as opposed to in the future.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on why cash flow for sr&Ed claims might make great business sense.

--
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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Looking for Ways To Finance a Franchise ? There Is Only 1 Way When Financing a Franchise Investment!

You're there. You have made the decision. You're committed. You have timelines now. We're talking about your franchise finance decision and the next challenge you have in the franchise process - financing a franchise. How many ways to finance a franchise are there? Only one... the right way! And we'll show you how.

The ability to finance your franchise properly and satisfy the requirements of the franchisor without putting you overly in debt is what it’s all about of course. And if you do it right then you of course have the potential to grow a business, profit from it, and build owner equity for either long term resale of personal financial gain. That's simply what it's all about, and boy does it help if you like what you are doing, at the same time taking on the entrepreneurship role in Canadian business.

The good news is that your are lucky, because franchising couldn’t be any hotter or more popular. Franchises move goods and services in the billions in Canada, and you're now part of that movement.

But let’s be realistic, whether it’s a franchise investment of any other business start up the same critical needs apply relative to planning and financing.

Homework. Did you hate it in school? Well here it is again because we strongly suggest to clients that you are now in homework mode when determining how financing a franchise works. It’s all about planning, which includes ensuring you have a profitable potential business on your hands, as well as understanding ways to finance a franchise in Canada.

Business plans are critical to your franchise investment. It's a case of demonstrating your business has both profit potential plus, and this is what interests the lender, that you have the ability to repay your debt and loans. The franchisor naturally is interested in long term success of the chain, and your ability to pay royalties as they become due, usually monthly.

When you address the franchise finance decision you must consider a number of items - they are as follows - what is the total all in cost, what methods are available to finance each part of the cost breakdown, and finally, and perhaps most importantly, how is the actual financing done.

The costs to assess in a franchise finance investment are as follows - the initial franchise fee, the cost of fixed assets or leaseholds to your business - i.e. equipment, signage, vehicles if required, etc. And finally, if you did all that and didn’t address working capital for ongoing operations and growth then you are setting yourself up for failure.

Clients are always looking to us for a magic solution and a one stop finance strategy for their franchise investment. The closest we can come to that is the government BIL/CSBF loan, under which the majority of franchises are financing in Canada. You can successfully augment this strategy by equipment financing for a variety of assets as well as a small working capital loan, usually unsecured. Don't forget also that your own owner equity investment becomes the final piece of the puzzle.

And getting back to our business plan, ensure that you have covered off all the debt you need and that if reflects your ability to pay it back.

Financing a franchise. Challenging? Yes, we guess so. Possible? Of course. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with franchise experience who will help you navigate, successfully, the only way to finance your new business - the right way!
--

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 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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