WELCOME !

Thanks for dropping in for some hopefully great business info and on occasion some hopefully not too sarcastic comments on the state of Business Financing in Canada and what we are doing about it !

In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.

Every day we strive to consistently deliver business financing that you feel meets the needs of your business. If you believe as we do that financing solutions and alternatives exist for your firm we want to talk to you. Our purpose is simple: we want to deliver the best business finance solutions for your company.



Thursday, November 3, 2011

Restart Canadian Business Finance Success With An Asset Based Line OF Credit ! Turbo charge cash flow Via ABL Revolving Lines






Don’t Take Chances By Not Investigating ABL Credit Lines




Information on the Canadian asset based line of credit and the ABL revolving finance facility .How these business lines leverage your working capital and cash flow to the maximum





The ‘times they are a changing; Bob Dylan we're thinking probably wasn’t considering an asset based line of credit finance solution when he wrote his famous song .

Somehow though those words signify a ' restart ' and that’s what Canadian business owners get when they consider asset based finance via revolving credit facilities as a solution for cash flow and working capital needs .

So how does something that seemingly seems the same actually benefit your company so significantly? It's partly related to the external environment out there: traditional forms of business financing in Canada are challenging to say the least, venture capital seems somewhat non existent, and private equity deals take forever to complete if you can find a suitable partner.

Enter the asset based line of credit finance solution! ABL is the acronym for this these revolving lines of credit. They are multi tasking to say the least. Hers some of the things that ABL lines can do : pay out secured existing creditors who have term loans or business lines of credit in place with your firm, eliminate CRA arrears, ( if any ) on the initial advance, and , quite importantly, help you get caught up with valued supplier and vendor related payables.

Oh, and by the way, if you had limited or perhaps no inventory financing in place before as a part of your business line of credit... well, you do now!

The Canadian asset based line of credit marketplace is significantly different from that of the U.S. First of all, we're a smaller country business wise, no surprise there. So there are fewer true ABL type lenders to meet your overall needs. We also logically think that the limited number of players in this market might be one of the reasons you simply have never heard of this solution?!

We keep talking about differences when we compare the asset based loan facility to traditional commercial banking facilities available from our chartered banking system here in Canada. Those differences are quite frankly what make these revolving lines of credit so great.

First of all there is a lot of emphasis on collateral and assets, and less or extremely limited emphasis on outside collateral, personal guarantees, and ratios and covenants.

Additionally, it’s apparently not a perfect world out there, and your firm may be experiencing fluctuations in sales, profits, and balance sheet strength. The reality is that ABL finance is still the solution for your firm if you are in any of the above scenarios.

ABL finance is specialized lending. Firms that offer this service tend to be seasoned companies with significant experience in loaning against your assets. That’s of course not to say the banks are not, but it’s a case of almost micro managing your assets with you, which gives you more borrowing power. These capabilities translate into more working capital and cash flow for your firm, as you benefit from higher advance rates on receivables, inventory margining that actually finally makes sense, and access to unlimited business credit as long as your business is growing .

Investigate ABL. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can help you determine whether your firm is due for a ' restart ' in 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 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :




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

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Are SRED ( SR&ED ) Tax Credits Dead ? We Hope Not! SRED Financing For Your SR ED Credit Claims Is Alive & Well !






SRED Loans and Financing for SR&ED Claims – Financing Today For Your Filed or Unfiled Claim!

Information on the financing of sred tax credit( sr&ed) claims in Canada. A bridge or factoring loan on your sred credits makes working capital and cash flow sense.





Sweating bullets. Always a favorite expression for some serious worrying. That surely must be the case for thousands of Canadian firms and the industry consultants who file SRED (SR&ED) claims in Canada for their non refundable tax credit monies for their R&D processes.

We're not going to weigh in on whether these tax credits are justified, not justified, or who screwed things up, but we will say one thing - Your Sred financing is still alive and well. In fact in some ways it just got better, and we'll talk about that also.

Thousands of Canadian firms receive a total of billions of dollars every year from the Government of Canada for their research and development costs. A large portion of their total costs in several categories of R&D, i.e. labor, comes back to them in the form of a refundable cheque.

Naturally getting monies back for your SRED claim is a huge and positive issue for thousands and firms who are either start up, pre revenue, or who simply... you guessed it... need the cash. Many of our clients actually book the claim they file as a receivable, in effect non refundable monies coming back into their company .The claim is, of course, a combination of funds from both the federal and provincial government. Sred claims are separate from other grants and schemes such as IRAP, etc.

So, getting back to the one thing we want to emphasize today, and that’s ' cash flow '! Naturally it’s a free country and if you want to wait to get your funds back from the government by all means do that. But consider also that you have another option, which is to finance your claim. In Canada SRED claims of almost any size can be financed. While larger claims make more economic sense claims generally in the 80k and higher range certainly are financeable.

So how does the financing work? You should consider this as quite a ' normal ' business financing. (Is any business financing normal these days?!) . The basic application involves info on your firm such as your financial, projections, etc, info on the owners, and copies of the actual claim itself.

SRED claims have tended to be prepared by a group of people in Canada who term themselves SRED consultants. They work on either a contingency basis or a fee basis. We've been watching the SRED battle from a distance and some people are making the claim that the sred consultants themselves have become a part of the problem in the industry.

Let’s use 2 Billion dollars an example. If the federal government gave out 2 Billion dollars it’s the SRED consultants who worked on contingency that receive anywhere from 15- 30% of all these funds as fees. That makes a case for not a lot of value for the country from a pure R&D perspective. Anyway, we promised not to weigh in on that one, so we won’t.

What we are saying is that if your claim is properly prepared, by either yourself or a qualified sred consultant then it’s financeable.

SRED Financing claims are financed at, in general 70% loan to value. We spoke of new developments in the industry as far as financing the sred credit .The good news is that most claims are now financeable as your spend, prior to filing, This is called Accrual sred finance, and gives you cash flow reimbursement as you spend .

Is there a bottom line today? As always, there is. It’s simply that we kind of hope the sred program stays around for all those legitimate firms and consultants who see the true value of the program. And consider financing your tax credit for increased working capital and cash flow. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on Sred Tax Credit finance 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 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :



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

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Save Thousands With This Info On Capital Equipment Leasing Companies In Canada . Lease Financing Tips!






Canadian Equipment Financing



Information on equipment leasing companies in Canada. Financing Capital assets with the right information can save you money .





The lay of the land. Kind of important in any aspect of business, wouldn't you say? There a tremendous amount going on in Canadian capital equipment leasing today, so let’s examine who these companies are, where they are, and most importantly, what you need to know about them!

Surely we all agree there isn’t a more viable method of financing capital needs then equipment leasing in Canada. Stat's show that over 80% of all companies at one time or another lease assets. So, no surprise that the industry today provides a huge amount of the capital in the financial industry when it comes to asset acquisition... your asset acquisition!

So whats all the fuss and excitement about ?We guess its the simple fact that almost any asset can be leased, and that includes software and cloud computing , right up to our traditional favorites : plant equpment, rolling stock, office equipment, medical equipment, and heavy construction equipment, affectionately known in the industry as ' yellow iron;.

So with all that goodness is there anything to be worried about when it comes to lease financing strategies and transactions for your firm? When we talk to clients it's often simply that they can sometimes view the transaction as complicated, and find it tough slogging when it comes to credit approval, other financial considerations, and the time spent sometimes to complete a successful transaction.

And when that transaction is completed are you 100% sure it’s a good one, maximizing ALL of the benefits that equipment leasing companies offer?!

The reality we have always found is that you can save thousands of dollars, or lose thousands of dollars when entering into the best or worst, respectively, transaction.

So what are clients interested in when it comes to acquiring assets via equipment financing? We can generally lump those issues into areas such as tax and accounting implications, the choice of the best structure of the lease from lease type (there are 2 types) as well as proper terms, rates, amortizations, etc.

Many clients we've spoken also often fail to perform some very basic ' lease vs. buy' analysis that points them in the direction of knowing that they made the right decision when it comes to buying or leasing .

And finally, what are the serious pitfalls when it comes to making the wrong decision?

You're in good company when it comes to being a lessee of equipment in Canada .Canada's largest corporations, right down to start ups and sole proprietorships lease assets. They lease these assets from companies that fall into three general categories - small, medium and large ticket assets. Things are somewhat further complicated because the companies that are in these three broad groups are independent commercial finance firms, foreign owned firms, Canadian firms, captive finance firms associated with manufactures, and bank owned in some case , And that’s Canadian bank owned and U.S. bank owned .

Help! We can almost hear clients as we walk them through the basics of some of the key points we've shared above. Is there a quicker way to the goal line considering all the demands of your time as a business owner or financial manager? There is... consider using an expert. What a revelation, right?! Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can meet all your lease financing needs and put you in a transaction that save money, accrues benefits ; now that’s a win/win!




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 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :



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

Monday, October 31, 2011

A Smart Way To Grow Sales & Raise Capital - Canadian Factor Receivable Loans Financing Via Confidential Factoring






Confidential Receivable Financing the Canadian Way!



Information on receivable loans financing in Canada . How a confidential factoring facility is an alternative to traditional factor finance with even more benefits!




Is there actually a way to grow sales and raise capital at the same time? Seems like a bit of a contradiction, don't you think? But thousands of Canadian firms have turned to receivables loans financing, a specialized sub set of asset based lending.

By factoring or selling their receivables as they generate revenue this factor strategy achieves out two stated goals, generating working capital every time you make a sale. And smarter business owners utilize confidential cash flow financing as a better method than their competitors to make that business financing strategy work even better.

If your firm just quite doesn’t have the track record to achieve all the bank or traditional financing you need then consider such a strategy with the added twist we've suggested, implementing a confidential invoice finance strategy .

Receivable loans financing, as we have said, is a sub set of asset based lending in Canada. It finances what is more often than not the largest asset on the left side of your balance sheet, your A/R!

What makes this financing so different then? A lot of our clients say ' the cost!’, and we'll get to that shortly, because it is a more expensive type financing. But the true difference is the fact it doesn’t discriminate. What do we mean by that? Simply that if you firm is growing too fast, having challenges, etc your receivables are essentially the only qualifier to getting approved.

Utilizing confidential invoice factoring allows you to not have to focus on debt to worth rations, or cash flow coverage, or putting up substantial personal assets under a guarantee - it simply takes for face value the underlying assets , that the a/r!.. and finances them, all day, every day.

And could this financing work any more simply? We don’t think so. Every month, or more often if you wish you create a simple borrowing base certificate on your assets, such as you similarly would have done for your bank. Funds are advances against those receivables, and as you collect them the balance of course reduces, similar to a bank revolving facility.

And now for the difference, i.e. what actually differentiates our confidential invoice financing facility from day to day factoring that your competitors might be using. It’s actually the ' confidential ' aspect we have spoken of. If your competitors are using this Canadian business financing strategy we can most assuredly guarantee you that their customers and clients are being contacted by the factoring firm, and when payments do come in they are being segregated by your finance firm or even remitted to the finance firm directly.

That’s where confidential invoice factor facilities differ. The simple bottom line - you bill and collect your own receivables. You maintain control, and in Canada we tend to view that as a good thing. Most business owners and financial managers are not aware that that type of flexibility as an example is not available in the U.S. at all. And back to that cost issue. Confidential invoice factor facilities don’t cost anymore than regular invoice financing!

So, confused? We hope not. Interested? We hope so! Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on the benefits of a confidential receivables loan financing strategy. Satisfy those critical needs your company has, growth and cash flow.


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 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :


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

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Canadian Business Banking Needs? The Edge On Bank Lines Of Credit ! Who’s Best In Canada ?





Commercial bank lines or credit and term loans in Canada


Information on Canadian bank lines of credit . How do you pick the best business banking facility in Canada . What Canadian business owners and financial mangers should consider in Bank financing .




Does it all have to be that mysterious and frustrating? We're talking about achieving success in completing bank lines of credit for your business banking needs in Canada. And with the proper info and mindset, and some tips to follow we think you will have an excellent chance of securing the business financing you need.

We'll also reveal who is the best banker in Canada, so stay tuned.

Canadian chartered banks are all about debt type financing... we're talking about term loans, equipment leasing, and revolving loans that are secured by current assets such as receivables and inventory .

We think where some business owners and financial managers in Canada miss the boat is the issue of knowing where the bank is coming from when it comes to ' secured lending '. For a starter, banks don’t really do ' unsecured' lending so that might be considered as our first tip. And by the way. approaching your bank for equity type arrangements wont work either, so eliminate that strategy from your ' to do ' list!

So, where is the bank coming from? It’s coming from cash flow, with your collateral being the assets that back up that ability to repay. Banks have sophisticated formulas in place that you and I might never really see when it comes to commercial business credit financing, but we can safely assure you that positive cash flow 1.25 times the debt you have to service is pretty well the rule of thumb with Canadian chartered banks.

Canadian banks are often criticized for not taking enough risk. Don’t get us started on that one, but recognize first that banks are regulated by various agencies, and loan and risk quality is constantly being evaluated. If you are looking for a banking type facility that comes with a much higher risk appetite, move into the non regulated area of financial services in Canada... that includes asset based lenders, non bank commercial financing firms, independent leasing companies, receivable financing firms, etc . It’s these firms that take up the ' risk slack ' when it comes to transactions the bank wont do - but of course the financing costs are higher. Surprised? You shouldn’t be.

A really simply way of looking at bank lines of credit is simply that the bank will look more favorable on your firm if it throws off cash, as opposed to consuming it! Naturally our clients then ask ' if I was throwing off cash then I wouldn’t need to be borrowing!”

Think of Canadian business banking as relatively low risk lending - if your firm has a higher risk profile then you should consider asset based lenders, and specialty lenders of all types - receivables, Purchase Order financiers, etc, . They will understand your needs a lot better than the bank.

One of most key points we share with clients around business banking in Canada is that they should pay more attention to the terms, covenants, and rations in their actual credit agreements. It seems to us, silly in fact, to be rate focused when all the Canadian chartered banks are within basis points of each other in their offering to business clients. Focus on meaningful covenants that allow you to work and grow on a daily basis.

You never want to be behaving in a manner as to jeopardize your business because of covenant issues. And another key area you should engage in frank discussion in is the whole issue of personal and spousal guarantees. In our experience there is some flexibility in this area when your case is properly presented. Consider a limited guarantee strategy also.

And finally, whets the best commercial bank in Canada? We actually do have a favorite, but it doesn’t seem right to say. But we can share with you that the best banker and bank in Canada is one who is professional, credible, has respect within their institution, and who is prepared to carry your business case forward in both good and challenging times . Your relationship with that type of banker is worth... well... a lot.

Want some tips, strategies and assistance in securing business bank lines of credit tin Canada that achieve your operating and growth goals ? Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in business banking 101.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR : STAN PROKOP
7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING!

We Finance the little guy! P.S. We finance the big guys too!



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

Saturday, October 29, 2011

Understanding The Canadian Government Business Loan - Federal SBL Loans Work For New & Existing Businesses




The Canada Small Business Loan Program – Yours To Discover!

Information on the government business loan program in Canada. How the federal SBL financing program loans for your new and existing business makes you eligible for $ 350,000.00 in financing for your new or existing business.






As some , certainly not all ( that’s why we're here) Canadian business owners know the federal government has a long standing and very successful business financing program , aka the ' government business loan '. It’s a federal program in Canada, sponsored by INDUSTRY CANADA, and it is probably suited for your new or existing small (New or under 5,000,000.00$ in revenue) business capital needs.

There's just one problem we’ve perceived over the years. Simply that understanding how the program works, and how you get approved seems to be a mystery to a lot of the clients we meet looking for this type of financing.

Let’s examine some of the key underpinnings of the program, focusing on what this great financing program does, and, more importantly, how you get approved.

First of all, talk about a great partner for your loan. Have you ever needed a co signer? Here's one for you, the government of Canada! We heard their credit is excellent! What we mean of course, when we speak to clients about the program is that the government guarantees the majority of your loan to the bank that underwrites and administers your financing. Talk about a good deal. And you thought you might have to ask your brother in law!

Naturally it goes without saying that this incents the banks and some other institutions that offer the loan to provide your firm with financing that you might not otherwise be able to achieve in a normal traditional financing request.

So we all agree it’s a challenging business financing environment out there. So how can government business loans help your firm?

First of all they finance only 3 things, and that always seems to be a mystery to clients who think the program is a cash or working capital loan. It is not! The three items that the program finances are equipment, leasehold improvements, and real estate. Under the equipment category many of our clients choose to also finance software, which is allowed under the program. And by the way, that’s application software, not software you are going to develop yourself.


So how does a business owner navigate, successfully, the program? We assure clients that you can almost assuredly guarantee yourself approval by following a very specific course of action. There are numerous conditions that can negatively affect your chances of approval, and if you know them you can avoid them.

It’s quite frankly all about your proposal, how it’s presented, to whom its presented, and ensuring you have the basics covered. Those basics are as follows - a minimum 10% equity investment in the financing, reasonable personal credit, a business finance plan that clearly identifies you, your business, and some financial projections that make sense relative to the loan amount you are requesting.

So, the bottom line, you can make understanding the Canadian government small business loan complicated, or easy. We're for easy, so if you want some practical direction in getting a small business loan up to 350,000.00 in place speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on the positive expectation of an SBL loan approval.



ABOUT THE AUTHOR : STAN PROKOP

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL

Canadian Business Financing !

We finance the little guy ! P.S. We finance the big guys too!


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

Friday, October 28, 2011

Feel The Freedom ! Success With Canadian Franchise Financing Business Lenders




Our Only Competitive Edge In Business Financing Is Experience !

Thinking Of Entrepreneurship ? Pain Free Franchising Finance



Information on franchise financing solutions and lenders in Canada . Business financing made sense for entrepreneurs .



The ' freedom ' of owning your own business, one that has already proven to be successful is surely exhilarating. That’s why it’s so all important to ensure that you're aware of the options and mechanics that franchise financing lenders utilize for a business financing when it comes to franchising in Canada.

It’s a broad spectrum ! From newer immigrants to Canada to seasoned corporate executives there is no doubt that a franchise purchase represents the new ' Canadian business dream '.

Let's examine some key issues when it comes to financing your purchase, including which the franchise financing lenders are in Canada, and how you can avoid the disappointment of doing it wrong the first time.

Several elements of your personal and past business life come into play when a franchise lender looks at your business proposal. One of them quite frankly is your personal credit history which must be reasonable. ‘What’s reasonable?' ask clients who sit down with us to discuss their franchise purchase and business financing options.

Actually the playing field is very level here, not a lot of mystery as some clients assumes. In Canada two credit bureau agencies dominate the credit history market. All Canadians who borrow or who have borrowed in the past have a 'score '. The passing score in Canada tends to be 650. So you can easily check your score by yourself and determine whether you are in the striking range.

Another typical question we always get revolves around the type of franchise you purchase. Do franchise lenders actually favor certain franchises over others? (Think doughnuts, hockey, and a Canadian franchise name that comes to mind as an example!) We have even seen some studies recently that indicate that there are some internal publications at some financial institutions in the U.S. and Canada that favor certain franchises over others.

We think it goes without saying that some brand names are more attractive , seeming have the ability to be more successful vis a vis cash flow generation and profits, and are viewed as a ' better bet '. That having been said we've worked with numerous clients who have successfully financed franchises that are either new concepts to Canada or less well known. So don’t take a less known name as a ' no' when it comes to franchise financing success probability.

The reality of financing franchises in Canada is that it’s hardly a huge ' collateral ' play. Involved in your purchase are franchise fees, leasehold improvements, and numerous soft costs that quite frankly aren’t at the top of the collateral desired meter!

So your ability to package and present a deal properly, inject some equity into the deal (the proverbial ' down payment ‘) and demonstrate a decent opening balance sheet and cash flows is critical. A solid business plan that meets and exceed the lenders qualifications can be prepared efficiently by any Canadian business financing advisor who is worth their salt!

So, franchise lenders. Who are they in Canada? The banks do the majority of franchise financing in Canada, but the secret here is that the vehicle used to approve your financing is done under a government program called the BIL /CSBF loan. It works perfectly for your needs on franchise financings under 350k. One major international firm also finances franchises under special arrangements with selected franchisors.

You should rarely count on your franchisor to assist in the financing process, other than some guidance and suggestions. So if that’s the case, who can you turn to? Consider talking to a trusted, credible an experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can tailor a financing to your specific needs, and entrepreneurial 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 80 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing .Info re: Canadian business financing & contact details :



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