Canadian Business Loans

Is Your Cash Flow really free? And how Free is It!




Canadian business owners and financial managers might not be familiar with the term free cash flow. When owners discuss business loans with their bankers and other lenders they often focus on the ‘profits ‘their firm is generating. More sophisticated owners and financial managers realize that profits in fact have not a lot to do with cash flow. Furthermore, those owners that understand the concept of ‘cash flow ‘are unfamiliar with our term, we note as ‘free cash flow ‘.

When the business owner takes his financials into the bank he is often proud of course to discuss the ‘profit ‘that the company has generated. The banker or other instuitional lender is probably turning over those pages in the financial statement and looking at the cash flow. Cash flow will of course repay any loans that are made, not profit, which is a term from the income statement of course. Profit and cash are never really equal or identical amounts on the financial statement.

We should also assess the quality of the profits and earnings – as they may be distorted in a number of different ways. Many companies prepay things like advertising, insurance, development etc and hope they will of course bring in future profits . They may, but then again they may not. Inventory is bought and paid for, and will hopefully be sold, but in some cases inventory will be rendered obsolete.
Another angle for our profit analysis, as it relates to our concept of cash flow discussion is the fixed assets on our balance sheet may or may not be true resemblance of their actual value or replacement cost.

All of this brings us to the key issue of our concept of ‘free cash flow ‘, and that is the issue of capital spending. Because it usually is a major capital outlay for any firm, and the fact that assets will bring income over a much longer period of time, it deserves a good amount of focus. What we are saying is that depending on your firms capital needs they will have potentially volatile effects on your cash flow. When your firm may be having a tougher year and liquidity is not optimal then it will be very challenging to make investments out of cash into new assets for the business. Therefore business owners, for cash flow purposes, should probably be reviewing on an ongoing basis their maintainance needs for their assets, and their replacement needs.

How can business owners estimate the level of capital expenditures and cash outlay? One great method of doing this is to monitor your cost of goods sold and benchmark it against our capital expenditures. They should probably be growing at the same rate – that’s a valuable analysis tool for your business and cash flow planning.

So lets come back to our definition and concept of ‘free cash flow ‘. Free Cash flow is calculated by taking your firms profits, adding in depreciation, and then subtracting your capital expenditures. As complicated as that might seem to non- financially oriented business owners it is simply saying that your firm is earning a profit, you are in a position to replace assets, and the amount left, your FREE CASH FLOW, still allows you to take on additional debt, declare a management dividend or bonus, etc .

Let’s recap – we are encouraging business owners to differentiate between ‘profit’ and cash flow. Once they have focused on cash flow (profit + deprecation) they should analyze that number in the context of additional assets they have to purchase to grow the business successfully. The amount of cash leftover after those asset purchases is a key financial metric for your banker, and it should be for yourself also , because, Cash is king!



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 10 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.





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com

SRED Credits Canada . Considered Monetizing Your Tax Credit Via SR ED Bridge Loan Factoring Finance?

Made A Mistake By Not Considering SR&ED Tax Credit Financing?


OVERVIEW – Information on the financing of SRED credits in Canada . A SR ED bridge loan or factoring arrangement monetizes your R&D into positive cash flow and working capital .



SRED Credits in Canada can be monetized. Simple as that. It's done via a SR ED (SR&ED) bridge loan, in effect a factoring or discounting of your SR&ED tax credit. We hear the term ' monetization ' a lot these days; it comes down to simply meaning ' converting a debt into currency '.

That debt of course is in fact the debt of the federal and provincial government via the refundable tax credit they owe your firm for your R&D projects for the current fiscal year.

Those claims are sometimes prepared by your own firm based on your expertise in the area, but 99% of the time they are prepared by a SR & ED consultant ; someone who specializes in the ' nuances' of research and development claims . Some of these consultants are accountants, some have worked for CRA previously and know the program, and others simply have industry expertise and know what they are doing!

A key point to be made around the type of consultant that prepares your claim is that it often plays a factor in the ability to get your claim financed. That’s because the consultants typically work on contingency, so the importance of presenting a quality claim can’t be over estimated.

In 2011 along almost 4 Billion dollars was ' doled out ' under the program and the majority of these claims were prepared by the consultants we have mentioned.

When a tax credit is financed or monetized /factored into a bridge loan there is of course no 100% assurance the claim will be approved, and that is why the quality and reputation of the consultant often helps to get your claim approved and financed quickly. It's all about ' the expert'!

Never has a program come under more scrutiny that in the past year, when the Scientific Research / Experimental Development (aka ' SRED') seemed to be in the news all the time. The dust has finally settled and many things changed, but one thing did not - SR&ED financing is alive and well. In fact even more innovative solutions are on the buffet table for you to choose when it comes to monetizing and cash flowing that claim.

The standard R&D claim financing has typically been as follows - funds are advanced to your firm for up to 70% of the total of the federal and provincial claim. That financing becomes a bridge loan with no payments made by yourself for the life of the loan, which is typically a few months up to a year depending upon several timing factors, whether you're a ' first timer' , etc.

The balance of the funds is remitted to your firm when the government pays the claim, less the financing costs. And the good news - no payments are made during the loan, it’s a financing that has one balloon payment that in effect closes the transaction.

So whets new in SR and ED finance? A fair bit actually. If your firm qualifies you are eligible for SR_ED accrual financing, allowing you to monetize next years claim today as you spend. Even a formal SRED operating credit line can be set up outside your other business financing commitments, allowing you to draw down on funds as you require based on your R&D work.

So while the pundits, economists, and lobbyists around this tax credit program continue to talk about the merits and future of the program remember that savvy Canadian business owners and managers continue to every day enter into Sred bridge loans to help them with their working capital and cash flow needs in today’s ultra competitive environment .

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN SR&ED BRIDGE LOAN 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 10 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-credits-canada-sr-ed-bridge-loan-factoring.html





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com




















Stan Prokop

Equipment Finance Services . Why We Think You Underestimate Powers Of A Leasing Company Solution

Don’t Finance Assets Without Reading This !


OVERVIEW – Information on equipment finance services in Canada . Knowing the benefits achieved via a leasing company can enhance your Canadian business financing needs




When it comes to equipment finance services via a leasing company we've never been quite sure if the Canadian business owner and financial manager understand the true power of asset finance. Each year hundreds of billions of dollars is financed in North America (that includes Canada by the way!) and the asset categories could not be any broader.

Your firm’s ability to maximize on the benefits of leasing is key. Part of the problem in that challenge revolves around the types of leases that are offered by the industry, and that fact that there are competitive forms of asset finance. In truth the form of finance you enter into is really driven by credit, tax, accounting and legal issues that may or may not be critical to your final asset investment decision.

The essence of the actual ' lease ' decision revolves around whether you really want to either ' use' and asset or ' own ' and asset. In lease jargon that’s an ‘operating lease’, or a 'capital lease’, respectively. If it is not one of those at the end of the day its ' secured loan’ or a ' bridge loan' with collateral.

Where you can exhibit the true ' power ' of a leasing company solution is when you have a strong handle on the actual useful life of the asset you're buying. Many firms such as yours acquire assets that have a long term of functionality. Using technology as an example that ' useful life' curve becomes a lot shorter, for in technology things seem to change pretty well every month or so. At least that is how it feels.

Can you actually ' profit ' from a lease finance scenario. Potentially you could if you entered into an operating lease and made great business decisions around selling or keeping the asset at the end of the lease term after you have satisfied your legal obligations re monthly payments, etc.

And if you are wondering why your lessor suddenly looks so happy at the end of a lease term it’s because they have smartly anticipated taking back the asset and refinancing it all over with someone else. So we suppose at this point you've transferred all your power to your lessor.

We think, and experience everyday, situations where clients are only focused on ' rate ' and ' 'monthly payment '.

Many business owners/managers don't necessarily appreciate the role of proper documentation in a leasing company deal. Proper documentation is key to understanding your rights and obligations in any asset finance transaction.

A great tip we offer clients is to ask them to consider the concept of a ' master lease ' document if they are entering into numerous asset financing transactions based on the nature of their business. That document is signed once, and when it is done properly protects you forever

The true power of equipment finance services revolves around your right to capitalize on economic advantages, recognizing when an interest rate is fair or could be improved upon, and achieving the many benefits of cash flow and working capital management that come with a leasing company solution.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who has a proven track record in asset finance power solutions.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN EQUIPMENT FINANCE EXPERTISE



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 10 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 :

equipment finance services leasing company




7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com



leasing company











Stan Prokop

Receivable Financing Factoring Companies Help Thousands Of Firms . Would A Factor Company Solution Work ?

Here’s One Method Of Saving Your Company From Cash Flow Challenges !



OVERVIEW – Information on receivable financing factoring

in Canada . How a factor company make your firm ‘ cash flow positive ‘!





Receivable financing factoring is a fairly simple process. The process? It's as follows - As you generate sales and invoice your clients for goods and services you have delivered ( Yes , service companies can also be financed in this manner!) your finance factor company buys those from you based on an agreement being in place to do so .

You typically receive 90% of your funds the same day, the balance is remitted to you as soon as your client pays, less finance costs. In Canada these costs average 1.5 - 2% per month . (Various criteria affect your rate, more about that later).

In Canada the majority (99.9% is pretty well a majority don't you think) require that payments by your clients go directly to the factor company. We're not big fans of that scenario, so that's why our recommended and preferred solution to clients is a CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVABLE FINANCING

facility, allowing your firm to bill and collect your own A/R. That in our opinion is the optimal solution.

Back to those receivable financing rates, which tend to be a point of major discussion when we're facilitating this type of solution? Your overall rates are generally based on the following criteria - the size of your receivables is one. However make sure you understand that if you're dealing with the right firm you are not required to finance your entire A/R portfolio all the time. You choose when you want funding and in what amount. And that of course means you only pay for what you use. That's a good solution, right?

Other factors that affect pricing include the general quality of your customer base, the number of clients you have, average invoice sizes over time, and the overall quality of both your own firm’s finances as well as your client’s general reputation. That’s a lot of qualifiers but in almost all cases unless your company is in a death spiral you will get the financing you need. That's why A/R finance is a clear alternative when traditional bank financing is not available.

The thing about receivable finance is being educated on who to deal with, its one form of business finance where a ' word to the wise ' is a valuable gift! Many Canadian business owners and financial managers are intrigued by f factoring; they simply don’t have enough quality information to digest why it might work for them.

When we sit down with clients we talk about a number of key issues in the whole A/R financing process.

That includes:

Benefits of A/R finance

The value of an advisor or consultant

Cost of finance

Due diligence required to set up a facility

Tips and tricks to enhance maximum cash flow

Your firms new found ability to take on larger business

Why negative perceptions of this type of finance abound

Accounting/banking issues that come with this type of facility


If you're looking for the straight goods on dealing with a factor factor company seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your cash flow needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
RECEIVABLE FINANCING EXPERTISE

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 10 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-financing-factoring-factor-company.html






7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


























Stan Prokop

Turnaround Financing Solutions Might Be Just Around The Corner When A Specialist Is There To Help !

It’s Here ! Turnaround Financing Solutions From A Specialist – Closer Than You Think !

OVERVIEW – Information on turnaround financing solutions in Canada . Let help from a specialist solve your business financing challenges






Turnaround Financing? ? It's associated with financing solutions and specialist techniques when your company is addressing various situations that may or may not be a crisis situation - although it probably feels like one to the Canadian business owner and financial manager.

A Turnaround Solutions Specialist focuses on a number of different areas - it might be management, products, and sales, however we're focusing on finance.

Clearly we can think of financing solutions as the ' doctor' that will be putting your company back in order. Statistics tell us that over 50% of companies that are in turnaround mode are eventually ' saved’

What then should be the goal of turnaround solutions when it comes to Canadian business financing? Ultimately the focus needs to be on getting your company back to some level of cash flow in order to meet your short term and long term obligations when it comes to debt levels.

That’s ‘JOB #1 “! After that you want to be working with someone that has the long term solution in place, with enough financing that gets you to where your firm needs to be. In some cases you might also need new equipment and assets and production equipment. These can usually be acquired via bridge loans of equipment leasing strategies.

We often hear the term ' peeling back the onion ' and its a good analogy for our current purposes ; because its all about seeing what isn’t working from a cash flow and profit perspective, and then putting turnaround solutions in place .

These cash flow accelerator finance turnaround solutions might include:

Receivables Finance

Inventory Financing

Asset based lines of credit to replace existing ( or absentee) commercial bank lines ( In some cases your firm might in SPECIAL LOAN category already at your bank, and ABL lines of Credit are the perfect solution to take your company out of special loans !)

Purchase Order/Supply Chain Finance

Tax credit monetization (Yes, tax credits can be financed)

Sale leaseback strategies via a lease or bridge loan


Even suppliers/vendors can be a solid source of new credit and financing if relationships have been and can be maintained. Oh, by the way, consider your landlord in that group, and if you own your own facility it might be time to refinance for working capital and cash flow purposes.

The obvious question we get from clients is pretty understandable, and they can be forgiven for asking it: ' Who would provide us with financing in this difficult period ‘. The reality is they are party correct in their negative assumption, of their turnaround, mostly because they are focusing on traditional lending sources. In fact many alternative financing strategies work perfectly when it comes to ' THE TURNAROUND '.

That's not to say that Canadian banks and other more recognizable solutions won't address a turnaround - but we can assure you they will need a solid business plan that shows how the company will be fixed and how current and future cash flows and profits will be generated.

So, need some help? Turnaround financing solutions to the rescue! Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your needs.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN TURNAROUND FINANCING SOLUTIONS EXPERTISE





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 10 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 :


Turnaround Specialist







7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com




































Stan Prokop

Secrets To Buyout Financing In Canada. The Scoop On Acquisition Finance Firms

Interested In Buying A Business?

OVERVIEW – Information on successful buyout financing in Canada. What strategies should you employ with acquisition finance firms to successfully complete your deal?





Searching for Buyout Financing in Canada? Along the way you'll need info and assistance from acquisition finance firms or other institutions such as banks. Is there some proven information and strategies the Canadian business owner or financial manager must use to be successful in acquiring or merging with another firm. There are of course, so let's dig in.

On many occasions we see that clients haven’t spent enough time on the overall ' financial nature ' of the business. By that in essence we mean an overview of the operating cycle of the business. The operating cycle? It's simply your ability to get a handle on the overall sales and seasonality cycle, the supplier and customer base, timing on how goods and services are delivered and the current overall financial structure of the business.

New funding that you require running the business must be part of the overall financial considerations. Even more simply speaking than that the lender or lenders want to know how they will be repaid. To demonstrate that you need a strong, clear sales and profit and cash flow projection that might well be part of your business plan or strong executive summary.

The ability to demonstrate how your new and existing debt will re repaid which is done by demonstrating that your new balance sheet has the right amount of debt and that you've got borrowing power.

Borrowing power is of course based on the assets of the new business - which typically is receivables, inventory, and fixed assets. Receivables when financed by a bank are typically margined at 75% borrowing power, and if you utilize an asset based lender your borrowing power typically increases to 90%. Inventory and fixed asset financing is determined by careful valuation of overall marketability of the assets based on the opinion of the bank or your asset based lender.

Other focuses of acquisition finance firms for buyout financing include management depth and experience, overall cash flow coverage and repayment ability, collateral asset quality, and the potential ability to grow sales and profits. No real mystery there!

Buyout financing works best when you have a solid handle on what's known as the capital structure of the new business. The easy way to focus on this is to have a strong sense of what capital is available from you the new owner, traditional of alternative lenders, and your suppliers/vendors. Using vendors as an example, just your ability to negotiate extended payment terms for an interim or permanent period is going to be a great source of cash flow.

Getting the right mix of short term and long term debt is also key. In a perfect world you want to have the right amount of debt, aka ' leverage’. A great rule of thumb? Simply that your overall cash flow can comfortably cover off your debt payments and that overall debt doesnt exceed your shareholder equity by a relationship of 2:1.

For companies in the SME sector we'll often see the overall capital structure is different than that of larger corporations - i.e. current assets and liability per cent ages tend to be higher - allowing you to monetize assets for cash flow and working capital as opposed to relying on shareholder equity, which is often much higher in larger firms.

Companies in the SME sector in Canada don't often have all the resources that the ' big boys ' have when it comes to buyout financing. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with acquisition finance.

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN BUSINESS BUYOUT FINANCING EXPERTISE



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 10 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 :


BUYOUT FINANCING AND ACQUISITION FINANCE FIRMS







7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com















Stan Prokop

The Government Business Loan What You Need To Know This About SBL Loans In Canada !

May The Force Be With You .

Experience The Power Of Small Business Loan Financing In Canada


OVERVIEW – Information on SBL Loans In Canada

. What Canadian business needs to know about the government business loan



SBL loans. When it comes to the government business loan MAY THE FORCE BE WITH YOU! We're a bit biased perhaps, but we continue to maintain that the SBL loan is one of the best things that government does for the SME sector in Canada. That's why we think you should know about the program, and as importantly there are certain issues you absolutely must know about ! And we're going to share them with you. Let's explain.

It might a debate whether SBL loans have in fact helped small companies become larger companies, but the reality is that they have helped thousands of firms, every year, along the way to the entrepreneur’s goal of becoming larger and successful. As a key point we'll state also that this loan is limited to companies with fewer than 5 Million dollars of revenue - that is small in the eyes of some people, not necessarily that small in Canada though where our landscape is populated by hundreds of thousands of this size of company.

And oh yes, the program also applies to start ups and franchises, who use the program a lot to ' kick start ' a business.

We certainly don't think the term ' mom and pop' businesses is derogatory, and the reality is that these firms, whether they are gas stations, restaurants, or other businesses all can utilize the government business loan. And oh yes, where else could they go by the way, as the SME sector continues to be under serviced when it comes to Canadian business financing.

Industry Canada is the agency within the government that monitors and administers the programs. But the actual loans themselves are administered and applied and approved by your local bank. If you can find a banker that's interested by the way, but that's a subject for another day!

So who applies for these loans, which total in the billions every year in Canada? The answer is any business that requires financing for three categories - business assets, leasehold improvements, and even real estate, although the latter is used rarely from what we see.

Yes, similar to all other types of financing in Canada you do in fact have to provide a personal guarantee for the loan, but the good news is that it is only for 25% of the loan, which we've always felt is quite generous. But just to clarify on that guarantee item - your personal assets aren't collateralized or 'liened'; the guarantee is simply your 'promise to pay ' if things go awry, as they unfortunately sometimes do.

If there is one reason that our Canadian chartered banks like these loans it's simply that the government guarantees them a huge portion of the loan if the loan goes bad. So in effect the government has kind of co-signed your loan, which certainly is a better co signer than your brother in law probably!

The term ' government loan ' has all sorts of connotations to our clients that don’t have a lot of knowledge about the program. But the reality is that you need meet, speak to or correspond with anyone in the government, its all done through your loan proposal at the bank.

You also need to know that you can fast track your approval and make chances of approval a lot more successful if you have a good business plan/exec summary, some clear financial projections, and info on yourself and the items you wish to finance.

So will THE FORCE BE WITH YOU when it comes to the SBL... the government business loan? We hope so , so consider seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian Business Financing Advisor who can assist you with SBL Loans - potentially making your small company into a larger great company!

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL
CANADIAN SBL GOVERNMENT LOAN EXPERTISE

CANADIAN SBL GOVERNMENT LOAN EXPERTISE



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 10 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/sbl-loans-government-business-loan.html





7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Phone = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653

Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com




















Stan Prokop