Fuel Your Film, tv, and Animation project with Canadian Film tax credit incentives financing – Film tax Credits Work in Canada

Fuel - The dictionary tells us it's something that ' sustains and encourages ‘. That’s pretty well exactly how we position Canadian film tax credit incentives. These credits, when utilized, or financed properly, are without a doubt providing you with a very significant portion of your total finance plan.

We never hate to ' diss ' the enemy, but we're on the side of Canadian tax credit financing when it comes to the current turmoil we hear about in U.S. states and other markets. If you are a producer or project owner in the genres of film, television, and animation areas of entertainment you can benefit from a substantial refundable tax credit based on the Canadian federal and provincial governments commitment to the revenue creation by this vibrant industry.

We're big fans of Mr. Jay Epstein who writes on Hollywood financing. At a recent breakfast we attended Jay spoke of the reality that it's harder to make a small or medium sized independent than a ' big budget blockbuster ' as he called them. And we agree.

Naturally we're the first to admin that you can be forgiven for grimacing somewhat when you hear the words ' government ' and ' financing ' in the same sentence. We felt the same way too. But when you sit down with the various government entities , such as we have , you get a profound sense that these government corporations, mostly Crown corp's in nature are taking seriously their mandate to administer and refund millions of dollars in film tax credit incentives .

We haven’t counted recently, and it’s almost a guess, but at least one of every 5 projects we see come across our desks involves an animated feature. As we noted, computer animation and special effects features are fully eligible for the same non refundable tax credits.

The amount of funds, non repayable that you can receive on any given Canadian production (or co -production) by the way, is significant. Anywhere from 30- 45% of the total financing you need on a project can be funded solely through the tax credit process.

Clients want choices, and they have them. If you choose to finance your tax credits you can receive funding on completion of your project, or, perceived by clients as even more valuable, you can use tax credit financing to help cash flow and monetize your project.

It always seems a bit of a mystery to clients as to how tax credits are calculated. A specialized film tax credit incentive accountant can help you maximize the credits and financing by point out various nuances about the ' point system ' that is utilized around eligible salaries for Canadian residents and ‘qualified non residents ‘.

Want a quick example - For you non Canadians there are ten Canadian provinces - Ontario, BC and Quebec seem to be most familiar to most of the U.S. folks that call us. But, if you chose to film or produce in Manitoba you get a 5% producer bonus if a resident there receives a producer credit. And on it goes...

If anything we've just proven that the bottom line is that with all the risk and timelines involved in making film, tv and animation features you certainly want to associated yourself with a small core team in the area of canadian film tax credit incentives and the financing thereof . And trust, us, this is one area where accounting isn’t boring - as your tax credit accountant has the ability to maximize your refund based on his or her knowledge of the Canadian program.

Speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced Canadian business financing advisor in the financing of tax credits in Canada. Money for nothing... well almost!

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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/canadian_film_tax_credit_incentives_financing.html

The Greatest Question Ever Asked About Canadian Equipment Finance and Leasing Companies - Let Your Company Join In!

It was a September night in 2002 - I will never forget it... the clouds rolled in ominously from the mountains as we drove... I strained to see the lights of home in the distance. Holley, my stepdaughter, 7 years old at the time turned to me and said ' I don't understand rent ‘. Wow I thought, great way to phrase that one! It's a true story. (Editors note - the clouds weren’t really ominous - he is using literary discretion)

Fast forward... 2011. Her better question today might be ' I don’t understand why hundreds of millions of dollars of equipment finance occurs every year in Canada.

Well if you didn’t know we're about to share that , and more importantly focus on highlighting some key issues around why all your competitors utilize equipment finance as part of their overall business strategy . And also, once we get you to ' buy in ' to the subject then we'll show you where to find the leasing company that works for you, not against you.

So why do start up, small and medium sized firms, and mega corporations utilize equipment finance companies to procure and finance their assets. One key reason is the emphasis placed these days on working capital. To finance the type of capital expenditures you need to stay ahead of the Jones’s (that’s your competitors by the way) you need access to credit and capital. And that capital varies in size, that’s the true beauty of equipment finance - it covers a 5k photocopies to a 20 million dollar aircraft.

And yes, it’s a free country, so feel free instead to dip into your operating line of credit of wait for A/R to be collected to acquire these much needed assets - but we can assure you the rest of the world instead has opted for equpment finance as an acquisition strategy. A harsher reality is that if you are a smaller company or start up you can't or don’t want to dip into additional equity for much needed new assets.

We will never not say the bank wont finance your equipment - but that financing, just to be clear becomes a term loan , and further ' complicates ' your banking arrangement , potentially adding new covenants, new collateral required, and diminishing the ability to get more working capital and cash flow down the road, when you need it .

So is there a real benefit in creating a ' relationship ' with either trusted Canadian equipment financing advisor or a leasing company directly?
Again, the ' ayes' have it; we absolutely feel that’s the case. Why? You benefit from the advice, counsel and structuring that can save you hundreds, thousands, or tens of thousands in financing costs, option flexibility, and tax benefits. Those are real world dollars we are talking about.

In fact, many clients opt to set up a lease line of credit, utilizing either capital leases or operating leases on an ongoing basis for asset or technology turnover. That’s when you have totally bought into the concept of lease finance. It in effect becomes your long term stated asset acquisition strategy.

How do you identify the best advisor or leasing companies to work with? Look for specific experience, credibility, references, and a track record of matching your equipment finance needs to rates, terms and structures that make sense.

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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_finance_leasing_company_companies.html

The Power Of The Government of the Canada small Business Financing Loan - SBL 101 !

Power - The dictionary defines it as the possession of control. You want it? We're going to give it to you as it relates to the government of Canada Small Business Financing Loan... we affectionately call it the ' SBL ‘! (That’s small business loan by the way ...)

So clients are always asking whats so great about the program? We'll give you thing things, actually four! Rate, term, structure, and by the way, a very limited (in our opinion) personal guarantee.

Industry Canada is the government agency that sponsors this great loan program. We're sure the department is staffed by some great people - it must be, because it’s a great program, right? However, you are never going to really meet these folks, as the government has chartered the Canadian banks and other miscellaneous financial institutions to run the SBL loan program on their behalf. So essentially its small business financing at the street level, which is right where you want it.

So how does the program work...? In fact an even better question might be why this type of financing should appeal to your firm.

The bottom line is that your firm is a ' for profit ' (we’re all for profit!) company and are either a start up or revenues under 5 Million dollars then you are a prime candidate for a government SBL small business financing loan.

So why banks don’t just makes these types of loans without all the government backing. Simply because (and we think you might have experienced this already) you might not qualify for what us folks in the real world of Canadian business financing call ' traditional financing '. Traditional of course refers to borrowers who are viewed as strong applicants because of high net worth, ultra solid personal credit history, strong balance sheets, and outside collateral. Who wouldn’t have problems coming up with those these days?!

The Canada Small Business Financing program in fact is very specifically designed to appeal to borrowers such as yourself who perhaps might not qualify for the traditional financing and criteria we've just spoken about.

I don’t think we have ever had a client meeting where the question ' how much can we get?" comes up. Our answer, plenty! If in fact you think 350,000.00 $ is plenty - we do. That’s the current cap on the program - but we'll share a tiny secret here, if you were to utilize the program for a real estate purchase for your business the program caps out at 500,000.00$ . Wow!

Sounds great so far? We have always thought so, so bringing new converts on board is a pleasure. Seek out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor. You'll then focus on how the program works, if you qualify, next steps, structure, and finally, your approval!

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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/sbl_loan_government__small_business_financing.html

The Secret Ingredients In Canadian Franchise Loan Finance - Making Loans For Franchise Work

Ingredients - The dictionary defines that word as elements required for a plan. No, we're not baking a cake here, we're going to instead define some key ingredients for a franchise loan in Canada - Your ability to successfully arrange and get approved for franchise loans for your new business is of course one key to your future success .

We noted a ' plan ‘, as referenced above. We're the first to admit that franchising is as hot and popular as every, so there is sufficient proof out there you can succeed - thousands of franchisees all over Canada and the U.S. have taken the plunge and have become entrepreneurial successes.

But is it possible to fail? Unfortunately yes... and even if you have a plan but have a poor franchise loan finance strategy in place for your business, coupled with your inability to fit the mold for your franchisors plan... well you know the rest. Those are some of the ' soft areas ' of potential failure, i.e. things like people skills, ability to manage a business, or simply not keeping to your franchisors formula... those are all ingredients for failure .

But our ingredients are today focusing on the hard factors getting loans for franchise finance in Canada.

Two of the most important ingredients to your success are your ability to make a reasonable equity investment into your new business, so that you are both not burdened with debt, but at the same time meet the criteria for specialized franchise loan programs that exist in Canada.

While one or two firms in Canada specialize in large multi million dollar loans for well known larger business blue chip type franchises the majority of clients we meet tend to be looking at a restaurant or service type franchise that typically comes in at the 200- 400k range.

So what key ingredients are part of the recipe for franchise financing success. They are, in our opinion, as follows - maximizing your ability to qualify for special franchise loan scenarios as offered by Industry Canada's BIL / CSBF program. This program alone finances most of the franchises in Canada and can help you turn your dream and passion for a franchise purchase into reality.

We're going to assume you have thoroughly researched your business and you've got what it takes, include some experience or relevant management background for the industry. What else is required for the financing plan?

Some of those key ingredients are a business plan, prepared by yourself or a professional, and by the way ... a few words about that plan. It doesn’t have to be 100 pages. It should be a clean simple document highlighting yourself, your franchisor, the industry, and most importantly, take some time to make sure the numbers work. Make cash flow assumptions that are reasonable; and by the way, don't forget to show the lender how they are going to get paid back for the franchise loan,

The majority of loans for franchise in Canada do fall under the BIl loan program we mentioned. It has great rates, terms and structures considering you are in effect a start up business.

Have we forgotten any other secret ingredients? Perhaps one, which is your own credit history. Franchisees with a decent personal credit history have a much greater chance of success. Yes, you might have a good down payment and some solid collateral or assets in the business, but that personal credit history dictates how you run your personal financial life, which transcends clearly into your new franchise business.

Focus on all these key ingredients when you are getting down to applying for a loan for a franchise. To ensure maximum success you might want to lay out a simply basic plan of action with a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in ensuring those ingredients translate into a perfect recipe - franchise finance approval!

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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/franchise_loan_finance_loans_for.html

Canadian ABL Lending - True Success In Banking and An Asset Financing Loan

Are you enjoying life as a commercial borrower in Canada - We can't even imagine some of the answers to that question, although we have certainly heard a lot of the stories! Let's examine why a new breath of fresh air, ABL lending has become a favorite and very unique banking and asset financing strategy in Canada.

One of our favorite expressions these days is that the old ways don’t work anymore. As it relates to today’s subject we're talking of course about commercial banking facilities in Canada, and focusing primarily on firms that have challenges to raise working capital and cash flow facilities that work.

It often comes down to a comparison of the two types of financing, traditional Canadian commercial banking, and our favorite new kid on the block, ABL lending and banking. We use the term new but quite honestly it’s simply a Canadian business financing facility that hasn’t been heard of by many Canadian business owners and financial managers for a variety of reasons. Maybe some people prefer to hide a good thing and keep it secret.

So whats better, a ' regular ' commercial banking facility via a Canadian chartered bank, or ABL lending and financing via a true asset based line of credit? Regular commercial facilities are extremely focused on criteria for mutual success - we say mutual because we hope everyone agrees your firm and the lender both have to win. (By the way, we are on our clients side! in that battle)

Got what it takes for a Canadian commercial banking facility - you know the drill - you need reasonable leverage, no significant events that are negative in nature, covenants that are a combo of income statement and balance sheet based, - example: fixed charge coverage, etc!

But hey, what about ABL banking and asset financing - whats required there. . Are you ready? Just assets!

That’s the appeal of asset based banking and financing - it focuses almost solely on current assets, key categories being of course receivables and inventory. Where our commercial banking friends focus in a dramatically different manner in analyzing and funding your business the ABL focus is simply n asset monitoring, and ensuring you can borrow on a daily basis at the highest of advance rates based on real world values of your assets. Oh, and by the way ' strange events ' are fully allowed - so you have a challenge, an acquisition, a special loan situation, a year of bad luck .. You will still be forgiven by abl lending and banking.

Want to ensure you have maximum availability on borrowing against your assets on a daily basis - speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor about an asset based line of credit that makes perfect sense for your company.

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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/abl_lending_banking_loan_asset_financing.html

5 Smart Simple Canadian Working Capital Cash Flow Financing Loan Techniques !

Working capital Cash Flow - A measure of a company's financial health. Equals cash receipts minus cash payments over a given period of time. That’s one of the better definitions we've seen lately. And could that emphasis on ' financial health ' be any truer? - We don’t think so.

Canadian business owners and financial managers want to... wait a minute, need to! understand cash flow concepts . And by the way cash flow solutions wouldn’t be bad also, and we'll shortly be identifying some of those!

We all agree that cash flow financing forces the business owner to address some really key issues, i.e. dealing with banks, borrowing from other independent finance firms, etc. When we sit down with clients that bring in their balance sheet and income statement its clear to us that there is a true mis understanding often... in the business owners eyes about what that incomes statement is telling us. It's those changes in the balance sheet they should be focusing on instead, in particular our working capital accounts, receivables and inventory.

Are there real world Canadian made solutions for managing cash flow financing , and what type of ' loan ' is best suited to address your cash flow needs, or crisis!
?

When you think of it , it all comes down to managing your billings, aka receivables, granting terms to clients, and of course managing payables which many business owners omit in their ' cash flow analysis '.

We can also add that a great concept we use is often overlooked , and that’s the quality of earnings , Simply speaking, your net profits don’t always ( in fact rarely ) equal your cash flows. The closer you can bring those two together, at a reasonable financing cost, will be the solution to working capital cash flow financing. A quick example would be giving customers extended terms and booking larger sales and profits... for awhile!

So, great job so far on all the technical jargon, right? Not what you were looking for?! Let's jump into the real world, our favorite place. We're identifying 5 working capital cash flow financing ' loan' techniques. And guess what, 4 of them aren’t ' loans ' per se.

If you want to fix, better, or change your cash flow financing consider one of the following - C I D receivable financing, a cash working capital term loan - injection permanent working capital into your firm, a full fledged ABL facility , a junior working capital facility, and , our most esoteric but real solution, inventory and purchase order financing .

Any of these 5 solutions will better your cash flow existence. Want information on what they are, how they work, what they cost and where to get them... seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor.

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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_loan.html

Canadian Do It Yourself Equipment Lease And Loan Advice – Commercial Business Financing

What caught our eye the other day in a U.S. based article was a title that screamed ' What's hot in Equipment Lease and commercial business financing '. The article went on to say that a large number of industries were totally back to using lease loan type financing for their asset needs.

But hey, this is Canada, so let’s try and make some sense of whats happening in equipment finance ' up here ' and how Canadian business owners and financial mangers can reap those same benefits.

Have you ever wondered what the most popular types of equipment are when equipment lease financing is utilized? In general the categories or industries that use this type of financing most are the following: Medical equipment, oil and gas assets, machinery tools, trucks and trailers, construction, and yes airplanes - clearly most aircrafts are financed!

It’s safe to say that if your company is in any of the above industries it might be advisable to jump on board, but the hard core reality is that lease financing and commercial business financing leases and loans can be utilized for any type of business asset. And when that asset creates revenues and profits for your firm a lease finance firm wants to be your financing partner.

Two key areas of equipment financing mentioned in the U.S. article were operating leases and used equipment valuation. It's been a tough couple years for all industries, and during the 2008-2009 but it is much easier these days to get used equipment financing, an appraisal or some type of valuation might be required.

As a Canadian business owner your perspective on asset acquisition probably constantly changes - you are wresting with general economic conditions, tax and accounting issues, and competitive pressures.

Can you actually be a ' do it yourselfer' in equpment lease business financing? We're the first to suggest expert assistance often helps but the bottom line is that many Canadian business owners are more sophisticated than ever when it comes to understanding the benefits of lease finance.

As a lessee you should be prepared to make a strong case for rates, terms and structures you think you deserve - this involves being informed about the general Canadian commercial equipment business financing market and then making smart choices when it comes to managing your working capital via this type of financing. Conserving your capital and cash flow , leaving your other borrowing power intact, and focusing on 100% financing of the asset will make you a do it yourself expert in asset finance .

Not 100% comfortable in working your way through types of leases offered, who are the players in the Canadian market, and structuring transaction that work from a cash flow perspective ? No problem? Seek out the services of a credible, experience and trusted Canadian business financing advisor who will assist you in your goals.


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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_lease_loan_commercial_business_financing.html