Canadian Franchisee Loans & Business Funding – 4 Secrets To Financing A Franchise

The inside edge. You want it, we have it! Have we got some tips and secrets to share for you.

We're talking about financing your franchise - the successful completion of your entrepreneurial dream in Canada. As a franchisee you want to be aware of your options in loans and funding programs that are geared specifically to financing a start up business in the booming franchise industry.

We're going to discuss 4 key elements of a proven formula for franchise success. What are they? Simply speaking its ensuring you have a business plan that accurately resembles the financial aspects of your business. Number two is the types of emphasis that is put on your own personal background and credit history. Number 3 is the knowledge of franchise financing options in Canada , and number 4, ( often # 1 in your mind probably .) the amount of personal funds you have to commit or invest to get your business going and your franchisee funding approved .

Let's dig in! OPM. What is it? It's stands for other peoples money and its critical you understand that a franchise is composed of two elements with respect to your financing plan - debt ( what your borrow ) and equity ( what you put in ). Our key point here is simply that while there is no proper mix of what works for the combination of those two elements. No franchise is financed with 100% borrowed funds - conversely you don’t want to ' pay cash ' for your business and risk all, or a lot of everything you own (house, savings, etc) for a start up business such as a franchise.

We will also share with you that some of the very specialized franchisee loan program in Canada typically require a 30 - 40% owner equity, or down payment. That can be achieved in several different ways.

Should you tap into your retirement plans to fund your franchise? That’s not our call, but if you have capital outside your savings we would not recommend collapsing RRSP’s, or taking out home mortgages, etc for the purpose of financing and funding your franchise.

Clients often ask how their personal credit history affects their ability to get franchise financing. In general we can say it’s a key point in the whole approval process. Many Canadians aren’t aware that the entire credit history system in Canada is based on a simple score. You should have a score of at least 650 to be successful in traditional franchise finance. So check your score in advance. And by the way, higher is better!

The business plan is a key element of your whole package. Many clients don’t have experience or financial acumen to prepare a proper plan. Not a problem as you can seek a Canadian business financing advisor, or accountant, etc to prepare your plan. A good basic plan comes at a very reasonable cost.

The business plan is your ' total picture ‘of your franchise. Basic elements are yourself, your background and business or industry experience, info on your franchise, and some basic financial projections. Naturally the better recognized and successful your brand the more attractive your perceived chances of success are.

As a franchisee what loans and funding is available in Canada. As unbelievable as it may seem the government of Canada, via Industry Canada, is one of the largest players in your franchise success. A program called the BIL / CSBF program is hugely popular and finances mot franchises fewer than 350k in Canada. We strongly recommend you seek out and investigate this program, it’s probably the key to 95% our client’s success in financing a franchise with funding that comes with great rates, terms and structures and limited guarantees. Bottom line, check it out!

So there you have it, 4 key elements, and secrets if you will, to franchisee financing success. Summarized... a solid business plan, some good business or industry experience coupled with a reasonable personal credit history, a down payment that is aligned to your overall financing needs and personal situation, and , last but not least, knowledge of programs such as the BIL which are geared toward franchise finance success .

So now you know!

P.S. Good luck in your entrepreneurial dream, and going it alone is never good, so seek the services of a experienced , credible and trusted Canadian business financing advisor .



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/financing_franchise_franchisee_loans_funding.html

Canadian Business Line Of Credit News - Must Know Info on Non - Bank ABL Financing and A Credit Revolver Loan

Are you totally on top of the newest trend in Canadian business financing these days? Then of course you're fully aware are knowledgeable on ABL Financing for a business credit revolver loan versus the alternative... a bank line of operating credit.

What's that ? You're not? No problem... read on!

No Canadian business owner or financial manager these days disputes with us the challenges of obtaining what everyone seems to call ' traditional bank financing. For all the right reasons (probably ... hopefully?!) Canadian banks hunkered down and tightened the lending strings a bit after the 2008-2009 financial debacle.

Therefore it’s not hard to determine how various specialized funds and independent finance firms came to a high level of prominence by offering ABL financing. A = Asset B= Based L = Loan .. It’s as simple as that.

Do you recognize any parts of the following story ... we think you will. You feel as if you had hit an impasse in expanding your firm. Personal funds have been depleted and your efforts to find that elusive ' traditional ' financing have failed. Additionally your firm might have some real challenges in perhaps returning to profit after you industry has been out of favor with those people in the glass towers that seem to know everything...

Is there really a viable solution to that business financing challenge, i.e. a real world alternative to a bank line and credit revolver loan? Enter asset based financing and asset based lines of credit!

Depending on the size of your facility and the overall financial condition of your firm the cost of ABL financing will either be lower, competitive, or higher than your current finance arrangements. ‘Thanks a lot ' we can hear you say, as that sure wasn’t very informing in nature! But we stand by that comment because of the complexity involved in assessing the size of your financing requirements, the overall credit worthiness of your company, and the mix of financing you need when it comes to ABL financing . The bottom line is simply that every situation is unique and needs to be addressed in that manner.

The essence of our message is hopefully clear - you do have a Canadian business financing alternative, and its a non bank revolving credit revolver , via an independent firm that provides you with very high liquidity rations on key assets such as receivables, inventory, and in many cases fixed assets and a/r.

Do we qualify? is question number 1 or 2 more often and not from clients . The answer in the ABL financing world is that everyone qualifies with only one criteria being required - you have business assets! because that’s what an ABL financing credit revolver is all about . And , as we said, it might be more expensive, and due diligence on your operations and assets might be a bit more rigorous ( in fact it will be for sure - ABL lending focuses on assets , not ratios !).

Whats happening in the Canadian ABL loan marketplace. Lots. Billions of dollars of financing is being accessed everyday by your competitors who are knowledgeable abut this new type of Canadian business financing. And it’s sure cheaper than bringing in additional equity, if in fact that could be arranged.

Interested? Intrigued? Want to know more? Speak to an experienced, trusted, and credible Canadian business financing advisor for the scoop on an ABL loan versus bank line. We guarantee you will be glad you did.





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_financing_loan_credit_revolver_bank_line.html

The ‘ 411 ‘ On Working Capital Finance In Canada - Cash Financing Loans And Solutions

You're a Canadian business owner or financial manager... you've just dialed ' 411' for info on working capital financing! What alternatives, types of loans and cash flow financing are available for your firm?

Let's discuss your question, with a focus on ' solutions ‘! Before getting to our answer let’s all agree it’s important to understand the question and subject. Our terms of reference are simple today - operating liquidity - it's the other half of working capital, balanced also by your fixed assets as part of your total equity structure.

But enough finance and accounting lingo... as a business owner you well know that you have have lots of sales, assets, and still be struggling everyday to meet your current obligations of payables, salaries and wages, lease and loan payments, etc. I

If you weren’t struggling you've solved your working capital and cash flow challenges, but we're assuming you haven’t, that’s why you're here.

If you have access to bank credit ( many small and medium size firms either don't , or don't have enough ) you r banker defines positive working capital finance as the difference between your cash , receivables, and inventory subtracted from your payables and other short term obligations .

But can a firm or business have negative working capital... actually yes. If you are a retail oriented business, or have very short credit terms and turn inventory and sales quickly you actually are winning, not losing. You have negative working capital but have won the cash flow game... essentially you collect quicker than you owe, so to speak.

We encounter many clients that have retail or service oriented businesses but still have cash flow challenges, mostly around growth. A unique new working capital loan solution called the Merchant Cash Advance small business loan is a great way to solve that cash flow financing challenge - so check it out.

What are the solutions to the management though of positive working capital - its a bit of a misnomer because when you think about it the more positive working capital you have ( i.e. inventory and receivables are growing ) the more cash strapped you are

The more common solution clients consider is simply ' bank credit ' - i.e. traditional financing. If you want to know if you qualify for bank financing for operating lines of credit financing you should ensure your firm is profitable, is perceived as stable and growing .. and your balance sheet ratios should be in order . Thousands of firms cant meet those fairly simply tests. Whats the solution?

If your cash conversion cycle (the time it takes a dollar to flow through your company) is high you need a working capital facility that finances both your inventory and A/R. For large firms an asset based line of credit is a working capital operating loan that makes total sense. The majority of these types of facilities are non bank in nature, and offered by specialized finance firms that specialize in cash flow solutions. Oh, and by the way, a lot of those ' bank requirements' we spoke of don’t apply when you consider an asset based line of credit - Why... simply because the focus is on your assets - inventory, receivables, and in some cases your ability to borrow against fixed assets.

The main offerings of Canadian working capital financing are asset based lines of credit, inventory and A/R working capital facilities, as well as receivable financing, augmented in some cases by purchase order or inventory financing. These solutions typically are outside of bank financing, come with a higher cost, but provide thousands of Canadian firms with all the financing they need to grow sales and profits . If utilized properly you have the ability to significantly reduce the costs associated with these types of financing.

So whats our bottom line advice on the information you asked for on working capital and solutions available in the Canadian marketplace. Simply that you need to understand your firms unique operating and cash flow requirements, you have to be able to have some sort of measurement on whether you are winning or losing (the cash conversion cycle formula works best - check it out) and finally you need to be able to seek out and work with a trusted, experienced and credible Canadian business financing advisor to keep you falling off the slippery slope of working capital financial pressures.


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_loans_cash_financing_finance.html

Commercial Mortgage Financing Canada

Commercial mortgage financing in Canada was exceedingly difficult to obtain based on the rates, terms, and structures that were sought for by Canadian business owners and financial managers. The 2008 and 2008 worldwide liquidity crisis clearly dampened commercial real estate lending in Canada.


Let’s focus on the commercial mortgage financing for Canadian firms who wish to either purchase property for new locations or expansion, or in some cases re financing current property based on existing company needs for working capital, etc.

Commercial mortgage financing in Canada is somewhat fragmented based on financing done in this sector of Canadian business. In our opinion current the best financing available for commercial first and second mortgages lies with a handful of select institutions who offer competitive rates and higher L T V. LTV is of course the acronym for loan to value, which specifies that per centage of financing your firm can obtain based on the value of the building / property .

When we meet with business owners to discuss why they are looking to either finance or re finance a facility the basic needs are as follows:

- Purchase a property that is currently leased
- Make significant improvements to a currently owned facility
- Re- finance a first mortgage that is coming due
- Acquire a commercial 2nd mortgage for additional working capital purposes


The general rule of thumb for Canadian commercial mortgages has been 65% Loan to value. As we discussed above that implies that if your are purchasing or re financing a one million dollar building you should be able to obtain financing in the amount of $650.000.00.

That obviously puts the onus on the borrower, your firm, to come up with a combination of equity and down payment that allows you to finalize the financing.

So is that the best deal that a Canadian firm can currently achieve in the 2010 financial environment? Absolutely not – there are a number of situations that allow your firm to get in some cases up to 90% and 100% financing on a building.

This is achieved primarily through government related programs that are generally not known to the average Canadian business owner or financial manager.

Our clients often ask us ‘how long will it take to put a commercial mortgage financing in place, and what is involved ‘. In our experience, with the full co operation of our customer it generally takes 30 -45 days. That of course necessitates planning in advance, especially if you are under some sort of deadline such as a renewal notice, etc.

We encourage Canadian business owners who are looking for commercial mortgage financing for a variety of purposes to ensure they have a clear and positive story in place. Our practice has been to sit down with a client, clearly reference the need and best solution, and we then put a clear package in place demonstrating the viability of the financing. That includes a combination of business and financial documents such as a summary of the business, the financials, and most importantly a cash flow analysis. We want to be able to clearly demonstrate that either the first, second, or both mortgages (if that is the solution required) can be repaid over time.

Commercial Mortgage Financing in Canada – challenging? Yes! Achievable ? Absolutely ! Work with a trusted , experienced and credible advisor who will allow you to achieve your goals and needs in this area of Canadian business financing .



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 - tel 905 829 2653

How To Work With The Best Canadian Leasing Companies In Business Financing and Financial Services ?

As a business owner you love informed choices. When you are looking for asset acquisition via equipment financing you need leasing companies and business financial services advice on the best way to achieve finance success - and that requires being informed on equipment leasing.

So whats the scoop on the current equipment finance situation in Canada? Most business owners know that the ability to achieve the business financing you need became extremely difficult over the last couple years. Leasing companies were affected just like others - in fact many companies disappeared, were bought up, and most importantly, lost critical sources of their own funding - the bottom line..? They were looking for financing just like you!

The good news. You may have even seen the commercials ' Leasing is back!’. Those commercial refer to auto leasing, we're talking today about fixed asset financing for your Canadian company - and that includes everything from machinery to technology to heavy equipment, software, office equipment, you name it .. Our last transaction was for school buses..!

So, if leasing companies are back, let's just ensure you have a solid understanding of the benefits of lease business financing and, more importantly, who you should be working with.

Asset Financial services via leasing is simple - its a ' loan ' in which your leasing company purchases the equipment for you ( or from you.. via n equipment lease back ) and then of course leases it back to you at a monthly rate for a specific period .

Is it appropriate for your firm? Thousands of companies utilize this form of business financing everyday, in fact stats show over 80%! Another great thing about the best leasing companies in Canada is simply their ability to finance any asset for firms of any size, including start up.

The best Canadian leasing companies tend to differentiate themselves by the customer market they tend to specialize in - In Canada the industry is dominated by captive finance companies ( firms which lease only their parent company products and services ) as well as segments devoted to small ticket, mid ticket and large ticket asset financing.

We have always felt that the best firms provide quick turnaround on approval that seems to be a key focus for many clients looking for quick approvals for their asset finance needs. So ensure you understand the approval process, which typically is just an application, and, if the size of the transaction requires, your firm’s financial statements which are revived for only purpose - ensuring you have the ability to pay back the lease!

Your best leasing companies in Canada will ensure you understand the cost of financing. That cost is a mystery to many business owners and a frustration to even more. Buts it's really quite simple, it’s the interest rate inherent in the lease, as well as any purchase options or obligations at the end of the lease, and finally, any misc costs or admin costs identified in your transaction.

So how do you find the best leasing companies in financial services in Canada? We recommend that you seek the help of at trusted, credible and experience Canadian business financing advisor in business financial services. That will allow you to get a competitive quote, as well as achieving the best structure to your deal . He or she has solid intimate knowledge of the equipment lease industry in Canada and therefore has the ability to generate savings based on overall rate, term and structure of your transaction.



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/leasing_companies_business_financial_services.html

Pick The Best Canadian Receivables Factoring and Financing ! Cost and Rates Of Invoice Finance

We encountered a great term the other day when it comes to business financing - the term was ' expansionary finance ‘. Is it just us or does this term seem to perfectly cover off factoring and receivables financing.

Often though three key issues come up when Canadian business owners and financial managers consider this type of financing. What are those 3 issues ?They are the total cost of this type of financing, the rates associated with this facility, and probably most importantly what type of firm offers the best facility to match your company's own specific needs .

Let's learn and cover off those issues, which will allow you to get more comfortable we think with this type of Canadian business financing.

So, why should you even be considering receivables factoring? Simply because it has become a common way for Canadian business to cash flow their accounts receivable and generate working capital based on your own policy of extending credit terms to your customers.

And, as most business owners know, sales does not equal cash flow and when business financing of your A/R is not available from your bank a logical place to turn to is to an independent finance firm that offers invoice financing.

But, what does this type of financing cost, and who offers it, and an even better question... ‘How do you pick the best factoring partner?

In Canada the financing and factoring of A/R varies widely. As a general rule we can say the cost is between 1-3% per month based on the size of the facility, your overall financial condition, and most importantly, whether you have sought out and picked the finance firm that best suits your needs.

Let’s clarify our comment on your overall financial condition. Receivable financing places much less emphasis on your firms overall financial health - in fact a huge amount of Canadian firms that utilize this type of financing are in stages of turn around, high growth, experiencing temporary financial losses, etc . So don’t despair that your firm isn’t eligible. But, as we said, your client base, the size of your A/R portfolio on a monthly basis and some other factors will dictate your overall pricing.

Frankly the best costs in factoring finance in Canada start to be achieved when your monthly financing capability for A/R is greater than 250k. Is there a ceiling on the amount of facility? Absolutely not, and facilities that go into the several millions of dollars on a monthly basis happen everyday in Canada.

Clients often ask our favorite most recommended type of facility. That’s a simple one - its called C I D - which stands for confidential invoice discounting, allowing you to be in total control of billing and collecting your own a/r without any notification to clients that comes with the U.S. and U.K.versions of a/r finance .

Remember also that when you are addressing the always top of the list issue with firms such as yourself, ' Cost ' that you need to factor in things you might never have thought about. They include your ability to grow your business and generate more profits simply because you now have the capital to do so, albeit at a higher cost. And couldn’t you offset some of the cost of factoring by taking discounts with your own suppliers (and improving relations with them along the way!), as well as purchasing more effectively with your new found working capital?


So , in summary , if you need a financing partner when you are considering a receivable management and financing solution seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who will ensure your cost and partnership with your factoring firm is focused on a mutually beneficial relationship for financing success .




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_invoice_rates_cost_financing.html

Don’t Fail to Investigate Canada Government Grants and Loans – The Small Business Loan Program Works!

If you are either a start up (pre revenue) firm or an established small or medium (we’ll define medium a bit later) sized company in Canada you should be investigating, and using the Government of Canada small business loan program.

Why? We will give you 4 reasons - Great terms, rates, structures and qualification criteria. Could you ask for anything better in Canadian business financing - we don’t think so and we have been a fan of the program now for years.

Many clients or callers requesting information on the program (the formal name is BIL / CSBF) often utilize the terms ' grants ' when requesting info on the program. The BIL /CSBF program is not a grant. It is a special business financing program sponsored by Industry Canada (those good folks in Ottawa ....). The program was developed by the government to assist the thousands of firms who might not qualify for what the finance folks call ' traditional financing ' - aka ' the bank!”.

We also promised you we would qualify the term ' medium sized firm ' when it comes to qualifying for the program .In the case of the Small Business loan program any firm under 5 Million dollars in either actual or projected revenue still qualifies for the program . Naturally your firm has to be privately owned, and be considered a ' for profit ' business. (We’re all ' for profit ‘!)

As we said, many customers call looking for ' grants ' - we're all for free grant money also - we are sure it exists out there somewhere, we just have never found it. Actually, let’s clarify that, two great programs, S R ED, and film tax credits are non repayable credits you can easily apply for if you qualify for either of those credits .Those two programs are a discussion for another day though.

Typical client questions always include - how much can we get or apply for??... What are the rates and terms? and whats the process involved ? Get ready for a short, simply and basic primer in all those three areas!

The Canada government small business loan has a maximum cap of 350,000.00 dollars. However, if you chose to use this financing for real estate you can actually receive 500k. We note that for many years the program had a cap of 250k and during the global recession (2008-2009) the government raised the limit on the program.

Many firms who are either new or have challenges might think the rates and structures are onerous under the program. Exactly the opposite... financing is at only 3% over prime, and from a term perspective you can go from 5 - 7 years, we typically structure 5 years as a reasonable term.

Penalties to pay back if you're successful - There are none!!

There isn’t a day when we don’t spend time advising clients on what can be financed under the program... that’s where a lot of mis information exists. The program only covers equipment, leaseholds and real estate. We would add that software is included in the equipment category.

So who is using the program - Almost 8000 businesses did in 2010 - so you can be sure that the program works and is robust.

The greatest challenge around the program in our opinion has been the confusion on where and how to apply. We've completed transactions in a week and then heard from clients that they have spent months floundering on their processes in this type of financing. Speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor in the area of government small business loans will get you on the fast track to some of the best financing available in Canada today.




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/canada_government_grants_loans_small_business_loan.html