How To Get And Finance A Franchise Purchase In Canada

The decision to both get a franchise opportunity and then finance a franchise purchase are of course intertwined. Is picking the right franchise more important than financing the new business venture ? - we're not sure – probably equally as important - but let’s look at some solid tips and info on franchise financing in Canada, how it works, and how that choice or pick you just made can be translated into a successful entrepreneurial career.

There is a whole industry known as ' franchise consultants ' that have the skills and ability to help you assess which type of business best suits yourself. If you talk to these people it always comes down to matching your basic personality to your business strengths and interests. Your ability to match those against a solid business opportunity in the franchise industry will ultimately be your success.

We're the first ones to agree that when you pick a franchise that matches your skills and overall financial capacity your chances of profit and success greatly improve.

So, you have made you finance decision, now how do you get and finance a franchise purchase. In Canada there is one major program our clients use to qualify for franchise financing - it’s a loan program called the CSBF / BIL program, which is the way in which the majority of franchises are financed in Canada. Utilizing this program properly will guide you ultimately to a well financed business that should allow you to meet your personal and business goals.

Your ability to get a franchise purchase closed successfully requires you meet the requirements of your franchisor, i.e. your new business partner so to speak, as well as the lender. You need to understand your initial costs, which are often a combination of soft costs and hard costs. In our experience you will have greater challenge financing the soft costs; they include the franchise fee, and other misc items that are not tangible assets.

The BIL/CSBF program we mentioned covers assets such as fixtures, equipment and also leaseholds. Your ability to finance leaseholds under a franchise loan is very important, as these items are typically not able to be financed under conventional means.

Money. Yours and the lenders. By that we are referring to your ability to put a reasonable down payment, or what the lender calls ' equity ' into your transaction. And, you're right. We already know your next questions, because it’s been asked a thousand times: ' How much do I have to put into the business to get and finance a franchise purchase properly ‘. Answer : It depends, but a typical franchise investment should be in the 30 -40% per cent range to allow you to have the right combination of both debt ( i.e. borrowed funds) and equity - which is your cushion that allows you to maintain proper leverage around how much debt the business can manage .

One mistake many new franchisees make is that they finance the business from an opening purchase perspective, and aren’t focusing on ongoing working capital needs, which is in our opinion just as important.

In summary, use you own skills or that of a consultant to match your strengths and experience and personality to a franchise that will work for your from a personal and financial goal perspective. Speak to an experienced, credible and successful Canadian business financing advisor on how to best structure the finances around your purchase. Utilize the BIL/CSBF program to the maximum that you can, as it provides solid terms, minimal guarantees, and great rates and flexibility.
P.S. Keep us posted and congratulations on your new role as business owner and entrepreneur.

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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

The Key To Working Capital Financing - Asset Based Lenders

Wondering how your competition seems to have all the working capital financing they need and you don’t - the key to that answer might just be asset based lenders and the asset based lines of credit they offer to Canadian businesses such as yours.

Let's examine how this relatively new and unique method of business financing can totally alter your business financing success.

The acronym for this type of financing is A B L ; simply speaking its daily cash flow provided against your current, and sometimes now so current assets . What do we mean by that? Simply that this facility allows you to margin your receivables, inventory, and in most cases, should you choose, fixed assets and real estate. You are probably saying to yourself that you could arrange financing on your own re those fixed assets and real estate - but we are talking about using those assets as collateral for your daily revolving line of credit. So you aren’t borrowing, you are not bringing debt on to your balance sheet, you are just leveraging your ' assets ' (that’s the 'A' in ABL!) for daily cash flow and working capital.

And why are we claiming that this type of working capital financing just might be your key to business success. Simply because you have probably found it has been challenging to get the full amount of business credit you need. In some cases you might have discovered its been a challenge to get business lines of credit of any manner.

So if your competitors are using this type of financing today, who exactly is eligible for it, and is your firm a candidate. The answer is simply that if your firm has a combination of 250k in working capital assets you are immediately eligible for asset based lines of credit. We would add that firms with smaller asset sizes can still monetize those receivables via invoice financing or discounting, but that’s not our key focus for today’s information exchange .

So now you now the offering are out there. But why should you consider it. Simply because your firm might be in one of a number of special situations - that includes issues such as your need for increased daily operating cash, you wish to merge with or finance an acquisition, you have been unable to obtain inventory financing elsewhere, you are growing to quickly for traditional Canadian chartered banking financing, etc ! We are pretty sure you get the picture now!

The benefits to this type of business financing must by now be pretty obvious. It’s all about access to working capital financing and cash flow that you couldn’t access before. Assets that couldn’t be financed are now financeable, and inventory financing, previously limited or unavailable now looms on your growth horizon.

Who are these asset based lenders, and what is the cost of this financing? We'll leave that one for another day, but if you want to investigate asset based lines of credit for your firm ( remember , your competitor probably already has ) then speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will assist you with identifying benefits and the best solution for your current strained needs in business finance .
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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Stop Dreading Working Capital Financing – Cash Flow Lending and Loans That Make Sense

Managing and getting working capital are two different things, and worrying about cash flow financing and what type of lending and loans are out there is of course another, and probably the issue that concerns your firm most.

Let's looks at some key issues around sourcing working capital for your Canadian business, although we are quite sure our information applies universally. How you have managed or are managing your internal financing is directly related to what solutions you have available.

Let's also be clear on what we are talking about, which is essentially your current assets and current liabilities. The accounts consist of receivables, inventory, your access to credit lines, and on the other side of the balance sheet your accounts payable. You want to have sufficient funds to satisfy your short term creditors, i.e. your suppliers, make any long term loan payments you have, and, most critically access cash for day to day working capital and growth.

We have mentioned how you manage your cash flow. Most business owners we meet do it intuitively, i.e. your business has a flow or rhythm around paying suppliers, billing your product and services, and finally creating receivables and getting paid. We also find working capital an interesting term, because in reality the accounts we mentioned, i.e. a/r and inventory are in effect tied up . They are unable to be monetized or cash flowed, and that’s why you need working capital solutions.

Most business owners don't know the technical term for monitoring their cash flow and working capital. A great tool is called the cash conversion cycle; another is called the DuPont Cycle. Each of those two tools provide you with some very rudimentary calculations you can make to monitor how fast a dollar travels through your company, and what effect on your profits and returns faster turnover has . Check those two out!

So, we've done a fairly good job of identifying our issue and problem... you were probably looking for solutions, right? The good news is there are several. The optimal solution in any business is to have your suppliers finance your firm - your cash flow increases when you don’t pay suppliers and are billing and collecting your own receivables. However, slow down payables to an extreme is not a recommended solution, certainly in terms of your supplier’s way of thinking!

The solutions to cash flow financing in Canada are as follows: asset based lending, receivable financing, purchase order financing, and working capital term loans. All these solutions are either very suited to your firm or not applicable.

Our favor rite and probably most recommended client solutions asset based lending; it’s simply a revolving line of credit on which you borrow daily against A/R and inventory. Yes, we said inventory. And these facilities are not loans per se; they are simply credit lines you access for your assets. Smaller firms should consider C I D invoice discounting, it’s our recommended solution, allowing you to bill and collect your own receivables but monetize them when you want. That’s true cash flow financing.

Whatever your challenge speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in accessing working capital and cash flow financing that most makes sense for your business growth and profits .


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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Work With Equipment Leasing Finance Companies For Industrial Equipment and Computer Financing Needs

The decisions need to be made - namely should you lease or buy your new industrial, business equpment or computing technology. And are equipment leasing finance companies your best solution for your business financing needs.

Sooner or later all companies in Canada need to choose between leasing equipment, understand the benefits of that finance decision, and most importantly know who to turn to or partner with for their leasing acquisition financing needs.

Let’s make sure you understand why you should carefully consider the key benefits of lease financing and ensuring you have made the best equipment acquisition decision. While it's a U.S. statistic, we're pretty sure that it’s the same here in Canada - namely that sooner or later over 80% of all business chooses lease financing as a business option for acquisition needs.

That eight out of ten ratio is a powerful one, so why in fact did those firms choose this method of business financing. The answer is actually quire easy, Benefits! Let's examine he key benefits you should focus on, and, as importantly, ensure you understand the costs, any risk, and the processes involved in making a solid leasing decision. It's all about doing your homework, being prepared, and working with the right parties.

So let’s first recap those benefits. The bottom line is flexibility, and with this type of financing what else could be more suitable. Simply because whether you are a start up, or Canada's largest corporation, whether you are leasing a photocopier, shop floor equipment, or computing technology... you guessed it, equipment leasing finance companies do that... for your firm !

Worried about your equipment or assets becoming obsolete - (think computers!). Don’t worry; simply match your lease to the term of the expected useful life of your computers, telecom equipment, software, etc. Worried about being burdened with asset disposition at the end of the lease term. Don't be. Simply enter into an operating lease that allows you full control in returning, keeping, or even upgrading that asset.

It of course always comes back to cash flow, and we can assure you that it’s easier to make a 3k monthly payment than to write a cheque out of your operating line of credit for 100k. Whether it's computers, industrial business equipment, or your corporate jet it’s always about cash flow and working capital conservation in business. Having just come through the 2008-2009 recession cash flow and its conservation still remains king.

There are many slick tools to determine whether you should lease or buy assets - they are available everywhere. We always encourage clients to make an informed lease versus buy decision for their asset financing needs. And, getting back to those benefits, numerous accounting and tax implications also play favorably to the leasing decision.

Are there any disadvantages to lease financing? We don’t really call them disadvantages, but there is no perfect holy grail for business financing, and when you lease you should understand of course the agreement is non cancelable, might have miscellaneous admin fees attached to the transaction, and on occasion a down payment or first and last months payment might be required for credit reasons .

So, whats next then? If you want to meet your equipment leasing finance needs seek companies that are your best partner for asset size, your firm’s credit quality, and suited to your geographical needs. Don't have a lot of time to investigate the process? Simply speak to a trusted, credible and experience Canadian business financing advisor who will work through the process with you, successfully.




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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

How To Obtain The Best Receivable Financing In Canada and Why Factoring Receivables Works Best When Its CID!

Your mission, should you choose to accept it? It's finding a financing receivable strategy that works, is cost efficient, and allows you to mind your own business when it comes to this popular method of Canadian business financing!

Factoring receivables gains daily momentum in Canada - If you feel either confused, mis informed, or just generally out of sync with how this type of financing works and what it costs lets get you up to speed.

It's actually not as complicated as you thing - on a daily, week, or monthly basis, (it’s your call) you provide your invoices and proof of delivery and shipment . And then here's the good news, you receive cash, the same day, for those funds. Actually, to clarify, the amount of the advance on your invoices is actually 90% - you receive the rest of the funds, i.e. the ten per cent, when your customer pays - less the financing charge.

And we know from experience that clients want to always know and talk about that financing charge, so let’s clarify that point right away. First of all did you know that some of the largest corporations in Canada utilize this method of financing receivable portfolios? Their cost is often either the same as traditional bank financing, and in some cases less.

However the majority of business in Canada that seek out factoring receivables actually pay anywhere from 1 - 2.5% per month for the cost of factoring. But let’s be clear here, receiving those funds when you invoice allows you to maintain a totally positive cash flow, and at the same time continue to grow sales and profits. We also point out to clients that they are now in the enviable position of taking 2% discounts on all their qualified purchases with their suppliers, and, if they are really smart, can negotiate better terms and pricing from their suppliers on product.

We referenced the term C I D when it came to our favorite, and recommended financing receivable solution. So what exactly is C I D? It's a unique form of factoring, that by the way, costs the same as other types of factoring receivables financing. However, unlike traditional A/R financing it allows you to bill and collect your own receivables on a confidential basis. Your suppliers, clients, etc are simply not aware of how you are financing your company, and we think that’s important. C I D is the acronym we provide for Confidential Invoice Discounting. So again, to clarify, you are financing your business on a confidential basis - your competitors who use this type of financing are not. That’s your key advantage, and we think it’s significant.

Selecting a receivables financing partner can be a challenge - simply because there’s hundreds of small and larger firms out there with difference criteria. You have to be able to distinguish between recourse and non recourse factoring, and if the firm even offers (or has heard about!) C I D financing. Other factors (pardon the pun) to consider are the size of your portfolio, misc fees that add up quite frankly, and must be understood or negotiated. And pricing is reflected to a certain degree by the size of your monthly receivable financing. A/R portfolios of 250k per month generally receive better pricing and structures.

Interested? Confused? Hopefully not the latter, but if you are seek out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will steer you through the financing receivable maze - we're sure you'll come out the other side well informed and with a factor facility that works best.
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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Striking Gold With Film Tax Credits – Finance Ontario and BC Film Production Incentives

Prospecting for gold is probably tough, but we're quite sure prospecting for financing for your film, TV or digital animation projects is tougher. So why not get that ' striking gold ' feeling via Ontario and BC film production incentives and film tax credits.

The film industry in Hollywood North ( aka Canada ) is alive and very well thank you , and the generosity and relative straightforwardness of Canadas film tax credit system has sure helped in that regard .

There continues to be almost not a day when we don’t hear or read about various film tax credit debacles in the U.S. - ( The last title we say the other day read as follows " Officials prepare for a battle over whether to scarp 40M a year tax breaks for movie and tv ...' ) . That story originated out of Connecticut , and we're not pointing fingers at any particular state, its just that Canadian film tax credits for Ontario and BC Film production incentives seems to be a lot more easier and straightforward .. I guess we're biased a bit!

Canadian film tax credits and the financing of those tax credits have been in place for many years now. Each province has a film tax credit (there are 10 provinces in Canada) and the credit is in conjunction with CRA, which is the Canadian equivalent of the IRS in the United States.

As we have noted before Canada maintains that the money, jobs, and resultant tax revenue from the industry more than offset funds granted via tax credit certificates for the three parts of the industry - film, TV, and digital animation. (Actually there are some other credits for music and publishing).

Producers and project owners in both U.S. and Canada that choose to domicile there projects in Canada ( i.e. film them here, post produce them here, etc ) are in the enviable position of receiving funding for their projects from anywhere, in general .. from 30- 45% of their total budget . Yes, its still up to you as producer to arrange the other 55-70% but don’t say you haven’t a good start when you receive non repayable funds in the amounts that we have highlighted.

So you've 'struck gold ' with your tax credit certification? Is that all there is? Definitely not, as most producers and project owners choose to finance those credits for valuable cash flow and working capital.

By working with a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor you can get solid assistance in qualifying your claim, determining eligibility, getting your credits certified, and , finally, last but not lease , financing these valuable credits for cash flow and working capital for your current or next project . If that isn’t ' striking gold... we don't know what is!

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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 7 years - has completed in excess of 50 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :

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

Have Ontario CRA Sred R & D Tax Credits ? Finance Yours Today For Advantages Of Cash Flow !

Maximize or minimize ? What's best in Canadian business. In the case of taxes it’s minimize! In the case of cra sred R&D tax credits it’s maximize for advantages of cash flow!

Whether you are in Ontario or quite frankly in any of the rest of Canada how could you not afford to file a sr&Ed claim for the R & D your firm does on its innovative products and services? We are of course talking about the Canadian Scientific Research and Experimental Development tax credit program which provides refundable funds for a very significant portion of the funds your Canadian business spends every year in this key area the economy - i.e. the competitive edge area!

And, getting back to our maximize or minimize issue, recent figure suggest that almost 4 Billion (yes that’s billion with a b!) of cheques are going out every year to Canadian businesses such as yours. As we have said in the past, we are pretty sure you want those cheques to be cashed by your firm and not your competitor, since the funds don’t have to be paid back.

So, lets assume you are aware of the program, (many aren't) and lets further assume you are using the program either on a first time basis, or, if you're very lucky, you're a repeat offender! You therefore should be aware that your claims can be financed so you can take advantage of cash flow and working capital that would be beneficial to your firm today.

Many sred consultants (they are the specialized firms that prepare these claims) tell us that a proper preparation of your claim can exceed your initial estimates of what you can received by sometimes 11-200%. So you ability to create CRA SRED R & D tax credits that are of solid quality , file the claim, and then finance it for working capital simply accelerates all the benefits of the program .

Do you have to finance your claim? ask clients often? Naturally the answer is definitely not, but we certainly think you should consider it. Think of your claim as simply an account receivable, which of course it is. It's just that it's a very high quality receivable because it is a non repayable cheque that’s due your firm from the federal and provincial government. So in considering financing the claim you can of course simply wait for your cheque , or you can monetize, or 'factor' , or ' discount ' the claim . (All those terms are interchangeable and mean the same thing.)

Are CRA SRED R&D tax credits difficult to finance if you want the advantages of cash flow. Well, consider we a bit biased but we don’t think so, it’s a simple business financing application, with the additional back up being your sred claim and the required ability for your firm to be able to offer the tax credit up as collateral.

Speak to an experienced, trusted, and credible Canadian business financing advisor today to get more info on either the program itself of the financing of those R &D tax credits.

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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 7 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_cra_ontario_r_d_tax_credits.html