Canadian Solutions To Your Working Capital Management And Cash Flow Loan Needs

Are there real world solutions to your business working capital management challenges? Is there a solution to your cash flow needs? Is that type of loan even available?

Today we'll be the finance doctor and we'll start y asking you if you have any of these symptoms : Is your firm growing too quickly , to the point where you are forced to focus on daily cash flow needs almost all the time . And are you also finding that you seem to be selling more and making less, from a net profit or income perspective. Do you even have a cash flow budget in place that allows you to assess your supplier payables, and lastly, but certainly not least and perhaps most serious... are you finding it unable to make certain loan or term obligations that your busines has?

It would appear to us, clearly, that you require a ' prescription ' for those symptoms, and that prescription is simply a working capital solution that works specifically for your firm.

Expanding too quickly allows you to stay ahead of the competition of course, but brings with it something the finance folks call ' overtrading ' which is a cash conversion cycle of negativity when those commitments we referred to cant be made because of the high investment in receivables, inventory, and fixed assets you have made to grow your business .

In other words you have the assets, but they are all tied up, leading to a case of poor liquidity. And we must be honest here; if you didn’t have the assets or sales potential there is almost no way we can help. So your ability to bring liquidity and monetize your assets focuses strongly on identifying how you are able to convert assets to cash.

So, never the ones to be accused of just talking abut the problems, lets talk about the solutions we spoke of.

It always comes down to current assets, so you require a solution to be able to monetize sales quickly, and convert A/R and inventory in working capital management success.

In Canada your alternatives are several, and quite frankly these would apply to almost any business anywhere. Many clients that come to us focus on what they term a ' cash flow loan ‘. Is that available, yes... is it recommended maybe. It’s a term loan for permanent working capital. Naturally that comes with more debt and fixed interest payments, so that is many times not an optimal solution.

Our preferred solutions to the working capital management challenge are the following: Confidential invoice financing, asset based lending, purchase order financing, and inventory financing. These solutions come in a variety of combinations depending on the size of your working capital requirement, as well, as the general financial profile of your business - i.e. are you currently financial challenged , or are all aspects of your business simply great . (It’s rarely the latter when we talk to clients.

In summary, investigate the benefits and mechanics of the 5 solutions we have outlined. Determine which ones work for your firm, and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced business financing advisor on your ability to secure in short order the cash flow and working capital you need to run your business 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/working_capital_management_cash_flow_loan.html

Commercial Business Equipment Leasing Services Provided by Financing Companies in Canada

Business owners want to maximize services and benefits related to commercial business equipment leasing and financing. Being able to work with companies that can provide you with asset acquisition financing allows you to resolve that age old question - ' should I buy or lease that new asset? ’

The reality of business assets, 99% of the time, is that they depreciate and eventually become obsolete - whether its 3, 5, or even ten years down the road. When you think of leasing you should view it as a ' utility ' service. What do we mean by that?Let’s use electricity as our example . You want to use electricity, but you dont want to own it. That’s how you need to view business equipment finance - a solid way of financing something that is depreciating in value. You are, in effect, matching your cash outlays against the useful equipment life of the asset.

As business people we want choices, alternatives so to speak. Clearly that’s where lease financing in Canada steps up to the table. Want prompt credit approval - leasing is probably the fastest method of obtaining a commercial credit approval in the Canadian financing landscape.

Want choices - boy have we go choices. Some of those very real choices, services and benefits include matching the type of lease you write to your asset type. If you are leasing technology such as computers you want to probably focus on what is known as an off balance sheet or operating lease. Even though the accounting popularity of accounting for this type of lease is disappearing there are still significant services and benefits - i.e. lower payments, ability to upgrade or return the asset, etc .

It's almost always about cash flow and working capital when it comes to looking at asset acquisitions for your company. You have a budget, you want to maximize it. You dont want to outlay huge sums of capital, and to top all that off you want to stay competitive and buy the newest, latest, and greatest . That clearly is the service offering com financing companies in Canada, who want to tailor your commercial business equipment leasing needs to what makes optimal sense for your firm.

In larger corporations executives are measured on key financial metrics / ratios such as return on capital and return on equity. Simply speaking if they can improve profits and shareholder wealth by minimizing capital outlay, or structuring off balance sheet transactions... well, you guessed it, that’s why they employ lease finance and loan strategies. (By the way a lease is not a loan but the terms are often intermingled by our clients).

So do these services really keep you ahead of the curve in capital asset acquisition - we certainly thin we have shown you they have? Utilizing lease finance allows you to acquire current technology, maximize financial statement and accounting benefits, and give you maximum flexibility relative to assets acquire and cash outlay.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on how commercial business equipment leasing in any area of your business provides you with services and benefits you previously weren’t aware of or were not maximizing.

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Stan Prokop is founder 7 Park Avenue Financial ; Originating financing for Canadian companies,specializing: working capital, cash flow, and asset based financing , the 6 year old firm has completed in excess of 45 Million $ of financing for companies . For info / free consultation on Canadian business financing / contact details see:

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

Advice on Canadian leasing company Equipment And Finance Loan Transactions

Canadian and U.S. firms finance billions of dollars of business assets via an equipment loan every year. Leasing companies provide some of the strongest benefits for capital acquisition than any other type of financing. Let's examine what some of those advantages are, and provide you with some clear tips and advice on obtaining the best equipment financing rates and structures.

Your firm only has an advantage when it is benchmarked against another alternative. That alternative in business financing tends to be outright purchase of the assets.

Canadian business owners and financials managers tend to be less aware of the accounting and financial aspects of an equipment lease. The most obvious advantage is simply that you know on a monthly recurring basis what your payment is - which hopefully you have budgeted for in your cash flow and working capital outlays.

Some of the best advice we can provide clients with is tips on selecting the right type of equipment finance lease or loan transaction. That revolves around the concept of either ' owning ‘, or ' using '.
If you wish to own the equipment at the end of the lease term you need to pick what is known as a capital lease or ' full payout' transaction as it is known in the industry. The concept is simple - The elements of the lease are the term, interest rate, end payment, monthly payment, and of course the value of your transaction. Using a financial calculator you can calculate any one of these key finance loan elements if you know the other data points.

Business changes constantly and so do financing rules on occasion. Many Canadian business owners and financial managers are not aware that there is an international accounting movement afoot to significantly diminish the value of operating leases, which is the other type of lease that leasing companies offer. This is a ' lease to use' transaction, where you have the right at the end of the finance transaction to return the equipment if you choose.

Over the years the key advantage of operating leases was that you could record the transaction off your balance sheet, it was simply an expense, and didn’t alter your debt and equity ratios, etc. However, international accounting standards are now going to require that you show the transaction on your books.

So the best advice we can give you is to discuss that issue with your accountant. Quite frankly a lot of the other benefits of operating leases still probably make it worthwhile - they have lower payments than a regular lease, and you still have that option to return the asset when you no longer require it at end of term.

Additional advice on your leasing company search or negotiation revolves around the whole issue of cash management. Did you know that you can potentially structure your transaction for payment flexibility, as well as adding in several intangible items such as warranty, delivery, installation, etc?

So what's our bottom line - simply to research which benefits make the most sense to your firm, pick the lease that suits your business and accounting needs, and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor about a leasing company that matches your firm’s 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 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_equipment_loan_leasing_company.html

Why Canadian Companies Use Factoring Receivables Solutions for Business Financing

Knowing you are making the right choice in factoring receivables for your Canadian business is half the battle. You then have to pick the best firm to facilitate your transaction, and like most business owners you want to know you have made the right decision.

Let's recap why A/R financing works, and more importantly, how to select the best companies to work with based on your own needs.

There are numerous reasons why you might want to use a factoring receivables strategy to finance your business. The best reason you can have is that you are growing! And growing quickly - Because in that situation you are unable to achieve the sort of traditional financing you need to run and finance your business on a daily basis. Simply speaking working capital and cash flow become your overwhelming priority on a day to day basis, and that shouldn’t be the case!

So, yes... you have identified invoice factoring and financing as your solution - but more importantly you also want to know how it works and how it will both affect and benefit your business on a day to day basis. The reality is that if are a small and medium sized business owner in Canada you are probably relying heavily on what the finance folks call a ' self financing' strategy. That simply means that you are only using your existing cash flow to finance your growth and profits - you are not in a position to, or don’t want to... take on more debt for your company.

Enter at stage left receivables financing companies! They purchase your a/r a daily, weekly, monthly ( its your choice!) basis and provide you with same day cash flow as soon as you have generated a valid sale and invoice .

And why does this strategy appeal to Canadian business owners? Simply because you are not creating debt on your balance sheet, and the personal guarantee situation is all but eliminated and you have the ability, ( if you choose the right partner firm ) to exit this financing at any time .

So, it all seems like a perfect world right? in effect the perfect business financing situation . Well in business it doesn’t work that way, there are pitfalls and mistakes you need to avoid when utilizing a factoring receivables strategy.

So what are those mistakes you should not make? Partnering... you need a firm that meets your needs, both geographcially, with competitive rates, and the ability to transact with you on a daily basis. We strong recommend what we call a C I D solution, which is the acronym for Confidential Invoice Discounting. This allows you to bill and collect your own receivables, finance them when you want, and receive the same rates as your competitors who aren’t using this C I D strategy. In their case their customers are contacted for payment by the factor firm, and this is unappealing to many Canadian businesses.

Whether we like it or not our clients always focus on rate when talking about a move to companies that will finance their receivables. Factoring rates are perceived as more expensive but in many cases when you factor in use of funds, ability to grow your business, etc the decision is not as difficult as you might think.

Speak to a trusted , credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who is an expert in factoring pricing, picking the best solution for your firm, and negotiating pricing and fees and advances that work best for your future growth and 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 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_companies_canadian.html

How Financing Options In The Canadian Equipment Leasing Industry Can Benefit or Harm Your Overall Profitability When You Lease Equipment !

As a Canadian business owner and financial manager you need to investigate your financing options when you lease equipment. Equipment leasing provides you with a combination of rights and obligations.

One critical area is the type of lease you choose and any residual values associated when you lease equipment .These residual values may represent an additional significant profit to the lease company in the transaction. Are there ways you can actually profit from the type of lease you choose? We think there are, and we will demonstrate how

The residual value is a solid portion of the lenders over all ' return ' on the transaction. Again, lessor return often equates to lessee shortfall, and you are the lessee!

So what is that residual value? At the end of the term of any lease there are options that any savvy borrower should both negotiate and understand. If You enter into a ' true operating lease ' then you have the option to return the equipment to the lessor (or maybe it is the manufacturer itself) when the lease transaction has terminated. Many major manufacturers of equpment, computers, etc have large in house leasing divisions which are profit centers for their financing options they provide customers.

When the equipment is returned the lessor re-sells the equipment, or in some cases actually rents or leases out the equipment again, obviously on a ' previously used ' basis. In the construction or aircraft industry assets can be used as long as 10- 20 years!

Borrowers need to understand that the potential profit the lender/lessor realizes on a transaction hinges significantly on the final value of the asset at the end of the term.

Let's use a simple example. If a customer purchases something for a value of 100.00 and wants to lease it the lessor will perhaps estimate that the equipment will be worth 10% of its original value, or in our case, $ 10.00 at the end of the term of the lease. He will often base his rate on the expected recovery. Naturally the lender could receive more or less at the end of the lease term - he bases his price and interest rate accordingly.

Borrowers therefore might want to significantly investigate the residual value being contemplated in this type of operating lease transactions, and, in some cases, invoke their right to buy the equipment at the end of the lease. It could in fact be resold for a profit if the company has a strong sense the asset will maintain its value. Again, think aircraft and construction equipment in the equipment leasing example we used.

Naturally lease companies want to earn a profit - the question becomes what a reasonable profit is and is at your firms expense.
Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian equipment leasing advisor who can provide you with real financing options when you lease equipment that make sense from your perspective, the borrower!
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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_financing_options_lease.html

Looking For a Business Cash Advance And Merchant Funding Via A Cash Flow Loan? Here's How!

Could a business cash advance help your firm? The dramatic rise of small business financing in merchant funding via a cash flow loan is simply a factor of companies such as yours wanting to capitalize on the working capital and cash flow that is, in effect, locked up in your future sales and growth potential.

It doesn’t take rocket science for any business owner of financial manager to figure out that if his or her firm has investments in receivables and inventory then those assets, typically called ‘ current assets’ requires financing in some form.
Of course you can ' self finance ' - meaning simply wait for your inventory to turn into receivables, and then wait probably even longer for your inventory and perhaps receivables to turn into cash. But, doing that forces you to give up on sales opportunities and challenges the very core of your financial health, given that we all agree cash flow is king.


If you are fortunate enough to be financing via a Canadian chartered bank you are of course familiar with ' collateral '- our banks do a great job of explaining that to you! Why don’t you use your own firm’s collateral, its assets, mainly accounts receivable, and monetize that asset into cash.

Clients are often fairly clear on the benefits of a business cash advance and cash flow loan, which is also called ' merchant funding ‘. What they don’t seem to have the best handle on is how it works.


One you have such a facility set up it quite frankly is one of the easiest and quickest ways to unlock cash flow and working capital on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis. And by the way, you only pay for the financing you are using. Let’s get back though, to how it works.

Funds via the cash flow loan are advanced immediately on the approval of your facility. There is no direct collateral for the transaction - the collateral is your future sales.
Didn’t you just feel your cash flow being totally unlocked and flowing?! Approximately 15% of future sales are used to reduce your cash flow loan via the merchant funding facility. In general rates on the transaction are in the 2% range.

2% you say! Isn’t that expensive for small business financing. Absolutely, positively maybe, but we actually don’t think it is. That is because all in rates from your bank when you total up all the fees, services, standby fees etc often total in the 11-12% range , not the 6% or 7% you think you are getting . And furthermore, if you take the huge amount of cash you just receive and use it to purchase more efficiently, or takes discounts on supplier invoice payments you make your total cost of capital goes down . And, another point, if you are in a competitive environment, (who isn't) does your ability to have unlimited cash flow put you steps ahead of your competition? We think it does.

There are a number of ways to finance your business. If your firm has sales potential, and you are challenged by the timing in which money flows through your business then consider the benefits of account a business cash advance via a cash flow loan for under a merchant funding program . Speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced business advisor on this popular financing tool for small business financing in Canada.
--


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/business_cash_advance_merchant_funding_cash_loan.html

How To Borrow Against Sred Claims- Use Your sr ed (SR&ED ) tax credits & Finance For Cash Flow Today!

In the world of finance more often than not today is better than tomorrow, and when it comes to borrowing against your sred claims your ability to monetize sr ed tax credits for working capital is the ultimate win win situation . Here is why!

The Canadian governments Scientific Research and Experimental Development (aka ‘sred’, 'sr&ed') program provides in the area of 4 Billion dollars per annum to Canadian businesses in the form of a non repayable tax credit cheque. The only reason you wouldn’t get your cheque is if you had corporate tax arrears, and that’s still a good thing we think, because at lease then the government offsets your tax arrears with your credit. (By the way, we don’t recommend tax arrears as a financing strategy!)

Your company is using the program for all the right reasons, i.e. improving products and services, staying competitive, etc. But many firms either haven’t heard of or lose sight of the fact that the sred tax credits can be even more 'accessible ' if you will, when you borrow or finance your claim.

Turning your sr&Ed tax credits into valuable cash flow and working capital moves you one step ahead of your competitors we have always maintained to clients. Why. It's simply the old finance adage that a dollar today is worth more than a dollar tomorrow, as it can be re invested in your operations for a variety of reasons.

A typical question we get from clients considering the financing of a sred claim is ' what are we allowed to use the funds for?’. And of coruse they love the answer, which is simply for any general company purpose you choose - typically that becomes reduction of working capital, clearing up or lowering payables, and just general day to day operations.

Financing your sred claims in essence ' invigorates your working capital.

So who finances these claims and how would be describe the process. Is it complicated; easy, how long does it take? Those are the typical client questions in consideration of sred finance.

We can make a broad pretty safe statement that banks in Canada don’t finance sr&Ed claims for your tax credits. If they do, it is in conjunction with other security and arrangements you have with your bank. Most firms we talk to either have approached their bank, been declined, or simply have not been aware that sr Ed credits can be financeable.

We recommend you speak to a trusted, experienced and credible Canadian business financing advisor who is knowledgably in the area of sred tax credit finance. That will shorten your process, maximize the amount you can receive under you claim, and in almost all cases simply reduce the time and effort you might normally expend to investigate sred financing.

The reality is that a sred finance expert can usually originate a full financing of your claim in a manner of a couple weeks, allowing for simple basics such as an application, review of your actual sred technical filing, etc.

So, can you borrow against sred claims? The answer is of course yes. Should you? That’s your decision, but if you need cash flow and working capital today from a non repayable government tax credit that you certainly know what to do now!

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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_sr_ed_claim_claims_tax_credits_finance.html