2,450 Ways To Pinpoint Cash Flow Problems Via Working Capital Solutions In Canada

Do You Think You Understand Solutions To Canadian Cash Flow Problems – But Perhaps Don’t ?!


Information on how Canadian business can pinpoint cash flow problems and implement working capital solutions for greater cash flow success



Cash flow problems and working capital solutions to those challenges that are faced by Canadian business. Are we really saying there are 2,450 ways to pinpoint the problem? In a way yes. Let's explain.

Although cash flow challenges are more than ' intuitive ' in the real world (that’s where we ourselves work) Canadian business owners and financial managers often fear or just simply don't understand how to quantify those problems. The reality is that the actual problem can be quite clear if you go to your financial statements, preferably on an ongoing basis.

Let's assume you can identify 2 data points in your financials - the number of simple relationships you can look at with those 2 numbers is of course 2.
3 different numbers or data points in your business numbers would allow you to calculate 6 relationships, 10 for example would allow you to calculate 90 relationships. Finally, if you identified 50 numbers in your balance sheet, income statement, or cash flow statement you would, you guessed it, be able to formulate 2,450 calculations. It's of course a geometrical solution we have just laid out.

So, your next question is of course ' what the heck is your point?! )

It’s simple actually; the relationships we are talking about are in fact more commonly called ' ratios' by financial types. Naturally you don't have to calculate 2,450 ratios to in fact get some meaningful data from your financials; a small handful will do nicely!

Let's examine quick examples to show you how you can very quickly pinpoint cash flow problems in your firm. Let's take 3 data points, your sales and your working capital. The working capital calculation is current assets over current liabilities on your balance sheet. Isolate those three data points and do the calculation. The actual calculation is Sales / Working capital.

Congratulations, you have just completed your working capital turnover calculation! It measures how your company is in fact managing your cash flow, because as sales go up inventories, receivables and payables rise also. All of those have been captured in our final calculation! In effect you have just mastered a simple way to compute the very complex relationship within your firm on a daily basis as you sell and collect.

Important to note that the number in and of itself is not meaningful. When you track it over time, say monthly, it becomes VERY meaningful. And for the purposes of this ratio a lower number is a better number.

It's also important to note that each industry in Canada will have a different number as a result, ranging anywhere from 2 to even 18. Each industry is different.


We're not accountants but what we have hopefully demonstrated is that any business owner or manager can use any number of data points in their financial results to pinpoint cash flow problems and performance.

It's all about asset management; in our example it’s those current assets that pay bill and allow you to make loan payments. Your goal is to manage the ' cash on hand ' account in your business well enough to put you in constant survival mode - and it's a jungle out there!

In Canada various solutions exist for cash flow problems. They include receivable financing, bank lines of credit, asset based lines of credit, monetization of tax credits, and supply chain finance. Each of these works in a different way, but all provide you with working capital solutions.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with score carding and solving your cash flow challenges.






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/cash_flow_problems_working_capital_solutions.html

The Evolution Of The Sale Leaseback Transaction In Canada . Get The Most From Your Lease Finance Company

Considered This Re- Financing Method?

Information on the Sale Leaseback transaction in Canada and how business owners and mangers can maximize the benefits of a lease finance company .



The sale leaseback transaction in Canada. It's back. Let's examine the resurgence of this unique financing transaction via a lease finance company or other financial firm.

Canadian business owners and financial managers, as owners of certain asset classes, have the ability to enter into a sale lease back scenario. It couldn't be more basic - you sell the asset to a buyer, typical a finance firm and that firm immediately becomes the lender or lessor of your transaction. And that asset is of course still there!

The two key elements that are happening should be quite clear - you have received cash flow and working capital for your firm on an asset that was unencumbered, and at the same time you are still ( hopefully !) using the asset to generate profit and operational capabilities for your firm .

In essence you're getting capital and cash flow from an asset that was otherwise non-performing. It's important to point out that your balance sheet still stays intact from a viewpoint of leverage, and in certain cases can actually improve.

It should go without saying that the financing can be a combination of one asset, or even different asset classes. For instance you could do a sale leaseback on your premises and the equipment if you are a manufacturing firm in Canada.

We referenced earlier the ' evolution' of the sale leaseback. In recent years a lease finance company was somewhat more reluctant to enter into such a transaction; if we could be blunt and straightforward (that’s our style!) transactions of this type were viewed as a ' cash grab' by firms who had some significant challenges. Bottom line it wasn't readily apparent the transaction made sense... for the lease finance company or other lender!

We like to view the transaction as simply one additional tool kit in the business owner’s pouch of financing or re-financing alternatives. If your firm is expanding, or is in a position of having to repay or arrange some other business debt then the transaction might make significant sense. Other times the new capital simply can make your business either grow or be more efficient.

Another way of looking at it is from the viewpoint of your core competencies - do you in effect necessarily want or need to be an owner of certain assets. just for the sake of ownership.

Naturally it's critical to determine the amount of capital you can extract from such a transaction. Business owners should ensure, either on their own or through an advisor, that they have a solid understanding of the current market value of the asset. However, if truth were to be told (again, that’s our style!) You will probably be required to get an appraisal done at your own cost at the request of the lease finance company or other lender.

Appraisals themselves have many nuances, and this is simply one more solid reason to ensure you have some solid advice in this area. Lenders or lessors focus on the liquidation value of the asset in a ' worst case' scenario. Business owners tend to view the asset in terms of its value today and in the business in the future. There is often a large difference between those two points of view!

The sale leaseback can also often enhance your operating ratios such as debt to equity, etc You definitely want to be in a position to understand the effect of the transaction from an accounting viewpoint, as well as ensuring you have the permission from any other ' secured lender' to complete the transaction properly .

When working capital, cash flow, growth, or balance sheet issues force you to consider alternative methods of raising capital don't forget those ' treasures in the barn ' - i.e. the assets you have in your firm that you own already.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on how the sale lease back transaction has evolved into a solid business financing tool your firm can use 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/lease_finance_company_sale_leaseback.html

Don’t Let Your Company Collapse For Lack Of Cash Flow Financing . Canadian AR Finance For Receivables .

Misconceptions and Truths in Canadian A/R Financing


Information on ar finance in Canada . Why Cash flow financing of receivables works and how your firm can qualify today .




AR Finance, i.e. cash flow financing has the ability to save your company when it fact your firm is faced with survival challenges. Let's examine when a receivables strategy works, and what you need to do to facilitate a financing that makes sense. In essence, ' how it works' and ' why '.

Canadian business owners and finance managers that face challenges of raising cash for their firm can utilize an A/R finance strategy, which is in effect the sale and monetization of your receivables to generate working capital. Our comments are focused on your firm being potentially in ' survival ' mode, but of course they apply to daily operations and growth, or even 'hyper growth ' which is a double edge sword.

If you do in fact require an A/R cash flow strategy are you in fact eligible? Let's examine some key requirements around getting a proper facility in place. We say ' proper' because in our opinion there are certain receivables structures that certainly aren't optimal for your company.

Getting back to those qualifications! As a general rule only commercial, i.e. ' Business to Business' a/r is eligible for financing . (While there are financing mechanisms for consumer A/R in Canada - securitization / merchant advance etc. Invoice financing in Canada general pertains to commercial business receivables)

And by the way, your clients can be in Canada, in the U.S. or foreign - cash flow A/R financing has the ability to capture and fund all of these!

Naturally your firm also has to be selling on credit, as a cash sale environment just does not work!

Size more or less counts when in comes to your ability to set up a proper receivables facility. Although very small facilities can be set up a good rule of thumb is that monthly A/R in the 100k+ range is a recommended size. And by the way, there is NO upper limit on the size of your facility in Canada, as facilities exist for tens of millions of dollars if that is in fact required.

The issue of ‘concentration’ of comes up. As a rule of thumb it’s preferable to have your A/R base spread over a number of clients, with no one client becoming a huge part of your overall sales. That issue is certainly able to be resolved if in fact that's the case with your firm, but widespread A/R clients is in fact the preferred business model.

While in almost all cases Canadian business financing vehicles work best with established companies we do point out to clients that a start up firm can in fact set up a proper facility and benefit in the same manner.

While very small invoice transactions can be financed typically larger invoice amounts lend themselves best to this method of finance.

So those are some of the points that define your eligibility for a cash flow financing facility. To originate a facility you must be able to produce aged receivable reports, financial statements, and basic info around your business model.

Our recommended facility is confidential AR FINANCE, which allows you to bill and collect your own receivables. Generally this type of facility has a higher level of due diligence involved, but your firms reaps all the benefits of cash flow financing and remains in full control of all aspects of the day to day routine.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in setting a proper facility that puts you in full survival, and hopefully growth mode for future sales 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 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/ar_finance_cash_flow_financing_receivables_.html

Does Your Canadian Company Have A Serious Asset Finance Loan Or Leasing Strategy ? You Need One!

Canadian Lease and Loan Options For Equipment Make Sense!


Information on the importance of an asset finance and leasing strategy for Canadian business . Considerations for equipment loans and leases in Canada




An Asset Finance Leasing and Loan Strategy ? Most Canadian business owners and financial managers realize they can either purchase fixed assets out of equity, or finance those same assets on a long term lease.


Business owners need to focus heavily on the use of the asset. Any company that acquires assets has either a long term view of the asset or a short term view. Lease financing is an excellent method of financing long term assets.

From the company perspective a long term lease on the asset - typically 3-5 years, and sometimes longer, is simply a method of purchasing the equipment via a ' loan '. The company simply decides on which asset or assets they wish to acquire, and then negotiates a price with the vendor or manufacturer. Typically the company is either dealing with the vendor/mfr. or the captive finance firm related to that manufacturer.

Business owners are barraged with claims that ' leasing provides 100% financing ' or that it ' conserves capital '. More sophisticated business owners and financial executives know that long term leasing is in fact a solid mechanism for tax avoidance. Some people maintain that if corporate taxes disappeared long term leasing would disappear!
When a firm arranges leasing it of course uses the equipment, and makes fixed payments on that equipment. Business owners focus more often than not on ' using equipment ', not owning equipment. The user can though structure leases allowing them to purchase the equipment at end of term.

If a customer does not wish to acquire assets over a long length of time, and if those assets have a shorter useful economic life than a firm should consider an ' operating lease '. The company has the right to cancel the lease at the end of term, return the asset, etc. In long term asset financing the transaction cannot be cancelled.

If a firm utilized a purchase strategy for long term assets then the funds for those purchases come from equity shareholders. The company uses the asset, and it owns the asset. Many customers have a philosophy of ' pride of ownership ' and have long term histories of acquiring assets under a purchase strategy. If the company is properly funded this is of course an entirely viable option.

We would point out further that if the financial markets were ' perfect ' ( they are not!) the advantages of leasing would diminish. In that case the company would not have to consider legal costs, brokerage costs, and other miscellaneous fees. Leasing matters because there are no perfect markets - advantages gained by the lessee are at the expense of the lessor, and each company has a unique credit and risk profile.

In summary, each company has a unique financial structure and acquisition philosophy around financing and asset acquisition. Owners and managers must consider the optimal financing strategy for long term assets that best suits overall corporate needs.

Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on your asset finance and lease strategy .




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_finance_leasing_loan_canadian.html

Is Your Company Properly Exploiting Equipment Lease Financing In Canada ?

Equipment Finance In Canada is NOT an ultra secret project!


Information on equipment lease financing in Canada . Use these tips to exploit asset finance.




We previously wrote on some of the challenges that Canadian business owners and financial managers face in getting successful lease equipment financing in place for their assets and capital expenditures. The current difficult economic environment makes it more challenging than every for Canadian business owners to get the proper rate, terms, and structure that they deserve.
Success lease equipment financing requires a working knowledge of what the lessor is looking for in a transaction.

Owners can safely assume that the lender is doing significant work on financial statement analysis to satisfy them they are making a proper financing decision with you firm. Included in this analysis is strong emphasis on cash flow history and projections, operating efficiencies of your firm as measure by industry accepted ratios, and balance sheet analysis with respect to the amount of debt your firm is carrying, etc.


In our previous article we suggested that business owners should be aware of some key 'structuring options 'that lenders use when they are contemplating an approval that they are not 100% comfortable with. These options, previously discussed were:

- Utilizing higher rates to compensate for risk

- Use of Security Deposits

- Use of advance payments

- Structuring higher payments in the earlier years of the lease

- Shortening the lease term to offset long term risk

Business owners should be aware of some additional enhancements that can further a financing approval when your firm might not fully qualify for your desired amount of financing and overall structure.

Let's looks at some of those additional enhancements that compliment the 5 areas we have noted above.
Business owners who are not familiar with some of these financial nuances should employ the use of a trusted leasing advisor with credible experience, thereby significantly increasing their chances of getting a lease financing approved.

Business owners might not always be comfortable with providing a Personal Guarantee on the transaction; however personal guarantees are a clear fact of life in the Canadian business financing environment. The logic of the lender, in this case your equipment lessor, is that you are more motivated to make those payments if you are personally obligated in the matter also. Naturally companies incorporate to avoid personal liability but business owners are often called upon by lenders, lessor, etc to provide a guarantee. It goes without saying that the lender will also want to validate the quality of your personal guarantee.

In many cases you as a borrower, or the lender might request, additional collateral on the transaction. This would be collateral that is currently unencumbered, but in effect shores up the lessors overall position, allowing your transaction to be approved. In many cases you will be required to provide some form of documentation (usually an appraisal) of the additional asst.
In some circumstances an effective additional collateral might be credit life insurance on the transaction - in a smaller of mediums sized Canadian firm the lender / lessor may rely on that insurance in the event something happens to the owner, that something being ' death ' of course!

Not all Canadian business owners know that in some cases the manufacturer that you may be purchasing and financing the equipment through is in some cases agreeable to providing a limited or partial guarantee on your transaction. They are making a sale, generate profits from the sale to your firm, and may be able to remarket the asset if the lessor requests assistance in this area.

Finally, in some cases your lessor may request a letter of credit or Certificate of Cash deposit as additional collateral. In the authors experience this is rare, as your firm traditionally would note want to encumber cash in such a manner.
So what's our bottom line? It is simply that lease financing can be a challenge, but if you work with a lessor to offer up and co operate on some manner of structuring, as outlined above, then your chances of successfully getting a lease financing approval increase immensely!







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/lease_equipment_financing_canada.html

You Need More Than A Franchisee Business Plan When Financing a Franchise In Canada !

Canadian Franchising Loans And Finance


Information on financing a franchise in Canada . The Franchisee Business Plan is important, but there is more you need to know!




Purchasing and financing a franchise in Canada. Of course you do in fact need a franchisee business plan to support that transaction, but it's safe to say you need to cover off a lot of the other basics also. Let's examine how your business plan works within your overall finance strategy to successfully complete a franchise purchase in Canada. Oh, and by the way, that covers both a new purchase as well as buying an existing franchise from a current owner, in effect a ' resale '.

It is safe to say that many ' non financial' oriented people find the basic request for a business plan somewhat of a challenge. How much time do they need to spend on such a document, and is there a perfect format that might guarantee a greater chance of purchase and financing success?

While we're quite confident that almost everyone these days can prepare some sort of business plan (it could almost even be a strong executive summary) the reality is that if you omit some of the basics the lender is looking for your overall purchase might in fact be temporarily at risk. That's not a good thing.

A good way to look at a franchisee business plan is to simply view it as a sort of ' blueprint' or ' road map ' to franchising success. We remind clients that down the road you can go back to the document and use it as a benchmark for how you are in fact doing financially, as opposed to what you expected to do!

The other aspect of a business plan is a pretty fundamental one - it makes you think! By working your way through a plan it forces you to address certain issues you may not have considered. Things like profits, cash flow, debt repayment ability, etc.

There is no one perfect document that makes a franchise business plan. The basics are fairly common sense - it describes yourself, your proposed new franchise, it outlines management and staff, and provides a basic description of the industry and business model you have chosen to be a franchisee in.

Typically you are preparing your business plan for a franchise lender, although we have seen in some cases that the franchisor itself asks you to present your plan in the context of purchasing their franchise. We would suspect they want to see if you know what you are doing!!

The franchisee business plan is certainly key in respect to assessment of the document by your lender. A good advisor, banker, lender etc will typically work with you to point out any deficiencies in the plan.

Typically the financial portion of your plan comes from specific or general information you have received from your franchisor on revenue, profits, and potential challenges.

Canada's CSBF/BIL program is one of the largest, if not the largest facilitator of franchise loans in Canada. That loan, in combination with your own equity or investment can successful complete any franchise financing within the 350k cap of the program. It can benefit you because in effect the government becomes your co-signer on the loan, guaranteeing to your financial institution a large part of the loan.

We would point out that you can have the perfect franchise picked, complete a solid business plan, and still encounter financing challenges simply because you are working with the wrong people. You want to ensure that you are working with a franchise funding or banking expert that will significantly fast track your success.

So, you do in fact need a solid business plan for your franchise, but working with the right team, and using your plan as a road map for success is a great working strategy. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor to round out your chances of finance 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/financing_a_franchise_franchisee_business_plan.html

ABL Asset based lending just might be the solution you are looking for in Canadian Business Financing



Information on an abl asset finance company business line of credit for your firms revolving credit facility needs . Leverage business assets for liquidity



Can an ABL asset based finance company, via a new business line of credit make your transition from financing pain to financing power? We think there is a strong case for that, and here's why.

Thousands of companies in Canada find themselves constantly challenge when it comes to ensuring their company has the right financing in place to both survive and grow .

For the small and medium sized business owners and financial managers in Canada there are some serious issues on the table: the jobs of employees, the value of the asset base in your company, and the ability to at a certain point in time to transition that business to a family member or third party.

Management therefore needs to realize that any turnaround in the business often will revolve around their own commitment to explore new types of financing that will in effect turn that ' pain’ into ' power'.

Financial challenges and problems require that they be identified early. There are a number of tell tale signs of trouble in your firm that often might be clear, or not so obvious. They include pressure from your bank on your operating line, financial losses that will ultimately link back to cash flow problems, pressure from other competitors in your sales environment, and sometimes issues you could never control such as new market forces.

The business line of credit, whether it's via a bank or an ABL asset finance company is often a key driver in your transition from pain to power. If your firm currently has a Canadian chartered bank line of credit you are subject to certain restrictions.

This facility is ultra dependent on a large number of key factors such as profit, operating performance which is measure via ratios and covenants, and your availability to provide collateral inside and outside the business. And personal guarantees as most Canadian businesses know are key to a long term bank relationship in many instances,

Canadian businesses are often in the position of having their business lines of credit are somewhat of a scapegoat for short term losses and a trend to unprofitability.

So if your firm finds itself in a downward or negative spiral what’s the solution? As we said a solid one might just well be a non bank business line of credit from a commercial ABL asset finance company.

But why can such a facility save your company, turn it around, and ensure that pain to power transition. We would offer up that it’s simply a case of the ABL firm taking a sign cant amount of more risk with your business. That risk though is somewhat measured from their point of view, as they focus predominantly on your overall asset base.

So you new ABL term sheet takes all your receivable, inventory, equipment, and in some cases real estate and rolls it up into one new large revolving credit facility It goes without saying that your firm must have good records and controls, and reporting capability, but at the end of the day the ' power ‘as opposed to the ' pain’ is now in sight.

When the business owner considers that ABL typically provides 85-90% lending against A/R, 30-70% on inventory, and then throws in an equipment component also... well... you get the drill - your firm has just reached a higher level of liquidity.

This new facility will, as time goes on, repair your company. Pressure from trade creditors will subside, you can take advantage of new growth opportunities, and sales can be back on track to grow.

You achieve this new higher level of borrowing by being able to supply regular on going info on your assets, and in most cases you'll be subject to a quarterly, semi annual or annual visit from your ABL lender.

If a turnaround in your financing fortunes is required you just may have discovered it. Consider speaking to a credible, experienced and trusted Canadian business financing advisor on you can successfully reverse your business challenges.






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/abl_asset_finance_company_business_line_of_credit.html