Receivables Discounting . What’s It Like To Find Great Finance Factoring

Avoiding Emotional Reactions Via The Wrong A/R Financing In Canada . Learn From These Mistakes




OVERVIEW – .Information on receivables discounting in Canada . What does the Canadian business owner need to know when it comes to putting the right finance factoring solution in place. Avoid costly mistakes with this information




Receivables Discounting in Canada. We can't even imagine the positive feeling the Canadian business owner / financial manger knows when they have avoided the mistakes made by others when entering into a Finance Factoring facility. Let's explain!

Your business is (hopefully!) profitable and growing. The only challenge (as usual) is cash flow and working capital. One method that gets a bit more popular everyday is using an A/R financing strategy to ensure you've got sufficient capital to meet your business financing obligations, at the same time growing your business.

Receivables discounting is the method that allows you to ' cash flow ‘your sales at the same time you generate receivables. All of a sudden you're in a position to compete with the big boys when it comes to taking on new orders, contracts, etc.

While business owners and mangers would like to be able to ' train' their clients to pay promptly the reality is that can often be a life long project. All of a sudden those great clients are in fact the same ones holding you hostage to the sort of business opportunities you need and want to take advantage of.

Working capital term loans require a major long term commitment - receivable financing addresses the challenge immediately and moves lock step with your sales growth, whether that's seasonal bulges or just continued steady growth.

But, while thousands of firms in Canada are gravitating to this method of finance you can clearly avoid some mistakes others have made along the way. Here's how!




6 KEY POINTS
1. Utilize A/R financing for your day to day business - funds used from your working capital accounts should in general NOT be used for long term financing needs.

2. If you are growing or just have a long collection cycle invoice finance works well - if you are in dire straits and sales are plummeting this method of financing is generally not the right one.

3.The majority of factoring finance facilities offered in Canada involves notification to your clients on amounts financed. Can you avoid this? You sure can, by considering instead a confidential A/R facility that allows you to bill and collect your own receivables.

4.Also, don’t think that this method of A/R finance avoids bad debts and collection issues. You are always going to be paying for what you have borrowed - just as in a bank arrangement - so prudent credit polices and good collection policies are still VERY important.

5. The general Canadian landscape for receivable finance facilities is in the 1.5-2% per month range. That means it will cost you 200$ on a 10,000.00 invoice if your terms are 30 days, and if you've enforced those terms as we have recommended above.

6. Also, dont forget to beat your competitors at the same game - used new founds funds to take discounts from suppliers and purchase more efficiently. You can reduce 1/2 of your financing costs if done properly.

In summary, finding solid finance solutions is always a good feeling. If you have avoided the mistakes made by your competitors it’s even a greater feeling! Avoid the emotional reactions from bad financing decisions when it comes to cash flow finance. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisorto assist you with your cash flow needs.




7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = A/R 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 :






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

Working Capital Strategy And Structure . The Fix Is In For Business Cash Solutions

More Choices Than Kinds Of Apples .
Working Capital Solutions


Information on working capital strategy in Canada . The proper structure of cash flow solutions creates business cash solutions for operations and growth.



Working Capital Strategy? Clients don't believe us at first, but believe it or not when it comes to business cash flow the Canadian business owner /manager has almost as many choices as there are types of apples! Understanding key issues as well as getting the right working capital structure is key . Let's dig in.

Does the owner/finance manager really have to be over worried when it comes to cash flow availability concerns? When you don't address those issue what in fact can happen? Lot's actually. We're the first to not want to focus on the negative and downside but cash flow unavailability leads to:

Employee issues

Potential downsizing of your business

Inability to grow and expand


Working capital structure and tools come from your ability to plan, analyze and making the most of using your assets to monetize capital. Doing these sort of things right often puts you well ahead of competitors, who we can assure you have their own problems!

If there's any good news it’s the fact that growth and asset growth allow you to access more cash flow solutions. But you have got to know how to do that, what amount and type of financing you need and what the cost of some of those solutions are.

The essence of working capital strategy and structure is knowing the amount of liquidity in your business. One of the greatest ironies of busines is that a company can have abundant and significant assets, but if you can't convert those into cash, or monetize them with the right finance solutions ... well... you know the outcome of that.

So it’s the management of your working capital accounts (cash on hand or available, inventory, A/R) that allows you to stay in ' positive mode '. Oh and by the way, those payables on the other side of the balance sheet can drastically affect your overall working capital and business cash success. Managing payables to the max in a positive manner affects cash flow from your operations!

Business owners in the SME sector quickly realize that your overall cash flow success drastically affects your sales, buying, planning, and asset acquisition. When you think of it all of that essentially becomes your whole ' cash conversion ‘ story - in a term we use often its really the story of how 1 Dollar flows through your company, from start to finish .

Remember also that your current or future lenders are looking at your cash flow ability all the time. Their evaluating their risk relative to the amount you are borrowing.



There are some classic stories around the loud buzzers that go off when a working capital strategy doesnt work. How can you address the right cash flow structure?

Best solutions include, but are not limited to:

A/R Monetization
Inventory financing
Purchase Order Financing
Sale leaseback strategies
Asset based non bank revolving credit lines
Commercial bank lines of credit
Securitization
Working Capital term loans
Merchant Advances


Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your working capital structure and needs. Put the fix in!


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 :


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = WORKING CAPITAL STRATEGIES AND SOLUTIONS



CONTACT:
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 SBL Federal Government Loan . Lovin’ It ? Business Loans Suited T o Asset And Leasehold Finance

Easy Instructions On How To Self Assemble Your Canadian Small Business Loan



OVERVIEW – Information on the SBL federal government loan . Business Loans via the ‘ BIL’ program work perfectly for start up and SME sector financing needs. Here is how and why .


The SBL federal government loan. As the commercial says, we're ' lovin it'. And here's why we think it's one of the best business loans around when it comes to businesses that are start up to the lower end of the SME sector. That's where it gets just a little technical, since firms with revenues over 5 Million dollars annually actually can't qualify for the loan.

This loan program is somewhat modeled after the U.S. program called ' SBA’. While that program was actually developed to help businesses recover from the Depression of the 1930's its safe to say that our Canadian program simply was put together to provide loan guarantees for business which to start and grow - financing their equipment needs, leasehold improvements, computers, software , and even real estate .

We rarely see our clients acquiring real estate through the program, but each year between 7000-8000 businesses in Canada reach out to this program for billions of dollars of financing annually. That includes businesses within our revenue cap as mentioned above, franchises, and start up entrepreneur financing.

There's always a huge reluctance for the Canadian business owner to get involved in anything that has that tine of ' government '. While that may or may not be a reality (it’s certainly a perception) many Canadian business owners and financial managers don't realize that you are never, we repeat, never in direct contact with the government (aka INDUSTRY CANADA that sponsors the program). The direct lender of this program is actually the Canadian chartered banks who administer the program on a daily basis.

Here's the difficulty though as you try to ' self assemble ' your SBL federal government business loan. The challenge is simply finding the right banker and bank to assist you in facilitating the loan. While many business owners simply choose by convenience or location to address their SBL loan request the reality is that you need to locate a bank and banker that is familiar with and supports the program in a positive manner. No banker is going to do all the work or bend any rules to get your SBL loan approved, so in some cases you actually might need to find a new banking relationship if in fact you get a sense that your banker is not on board . Some are... many are not!


When businesses borrow, whether it’s an SBL loan or not the bank focuses on what the finance text books call the 4 C's of borrowing - capacity, character and capital/collateral.

In the case of SBL federal govt loans you do need to have reasonable personal credit as the owner/owners of the business. However no external collateral is required by the program, and your business plan and cash flow summary just needs to show repayment ability.

So what do our clients tend to use this program for? Many purchase franchises, others modernize facilities through leasehold improvements, and still others acquire assets such as rolling stock, equipment, furniture, application software and computers, telecom assets, etc.

The shorter answer is what in fact does the program not finance, and here it’s important to understand that it does not finance working capital or inventory. We wish it did, it does not. For working capital and inventory needs you require other solutions such as: receivable finance, inventory financing, sale leasebacks, asset based none bank lines of credit, and yes, even commercial bank lines of credit for working capital.

So, could your firm be ' lovin' it ' ?If you want to self assemble your own SBL loan consider speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with asset and leasehold finance needs.






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 :


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = GOV’T SBL LOANS
























Stan Prokop

An ABL Business Line Of Credit Can Earn Your Company The Working Capital It Needs . Asset Based Lending Simply .. Works.

Why ABL Reverses The Cash Flow Plunge And Allows Working Capital To Soar


OVERVIEW – .Information on the ABL line of business credit in Canada . Asset based solutions deliver on cash flow and working capital when you need it the most



Can the ABL asset based business line of credit really reverse the cash flow ' plunges' that companies inevitably face? We think it can, and by the way it’s been proven by the thousands of firms in Canada and the U.S. that utilize this method of revolving credit facility for their business needs. Here's why... and how. Let's dig in.

It always helps when the business owner/manager understands the basics. So the asset based credit line for business simply a revolving credit finance solution that allows your company to draw down on working capital needs based on a high margin against inventory, equipment, receivables and real estate if that plays into the equation.

While for any type of business finance it always helps if a company has a track record a true ABL solution works for almost any type of size and firm that has assets. While transaction on the lower end of the scale might be in the 250K range there is virtually no upper limit and true asset based facilities many times run into the many millions of dollars. The only prerequisite - assets!

This method of finance a business line of credit is directly comparable to Canadian chartered bank facilities. Whether it’s the bank or your asset based lender you grant a secured position on all business assets, and then borrow against them. But in the case of the ABL facility you actually do borrow against all of those assets - daily!

The immediate question that comes to mind is of course the difference in choosing between the bank and the ABL solution. Typical ABL structures provide borrowing against 90% of receivables, 50-70% of equipment true value, and typically 50% on inventory. If your company owns real estate it is easily thrown into the borrowing mix.

It is therefore obvious to see some of the key tangible benefits of the ABL line of credit. If we had to succinctly summarize them it would be as follows:

- All business assets become borrowing power
- funding is immediate
- As you business grows the facility grows in lock step
- Easier to qualify than bank financing
- Similar to bank credit facilities you only pay for what you are borrowing at any given time
-There is not contact with your clients in a true ABL asset based solution

So the simple difference - you're borrowing on business assets and revenue growth - not cash flow ratios and covenants and debt to equity borrowing constraints. It's that covenant freedom you have been looking for - as some put it - it allows you to weather those business ' bumps in the road'.

It's easy to see why this innovative financing solution is gaining more traction everyday. In effect it has become ' respectable'! Improper perceptions occur in the marketplace when people think ABL is a last resort type of financing. In fact it’s the first resort for some of the largest companies in Canada and the U.S.

While asset base lending usually, but not always, is more expensive, the fact that you're turning asset, generating profits, and not taking on term debt often makes a lot of sense.

If you wish to reverse the cash flow plunge, letting working capital soar, seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your ABL needs.







7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = ABL ASSET BASED BUSINESS LINES OF CREDIT 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 :





CONTACT:
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

Franchise Funding Options Not A Cinch? Franchising Loans May Not Be As Tough To Get As You Thought

This Is What Happens When You’ve Got The Right Information on Franchisee Finance Options


OVERVIEW – . Information on franchising loans in Canada. How does the entrepreneur know he or she has access to the right franchise funding options that are available in the Canadian marketplace




Franchise funding options in Canada. At certain points many potential franchisees in the Canadian marketplace get the feeling that this is a bit tougher than they thought! So success in this area revolves around the right information and expertise when it comes to franchising loans that are available, and make sense.

In some cases you're simple the ' newbie - a first time franchisee that’s looking to funding for the entrepreneurial dream of owning your own business. In other cases you might actually already own a franchise and want to expand.

Top experts in the field tell us that the majority of the franchises out there and there are tens of thousands do in fact make money. As a result there are in fact lending and financial resources available for reputable franchises with solid owners with good overall business experience.

Key to understanding the financing challenge is the recognition that you as the business owner must have a financial commitment in the business. So it is therefore very unreasonable to both expect and assume that you will ever receive ' 100% financing ' on your purchase. We would hasten to add though that many franchises in Canada are financed under the specialized ' BIL ' loan program , and that financing requires only a 10% permanent equity contribution , although we can discount the need and requirement for working capital as the business starts and grows.

Term loans tend to be the most utilized method of financing a franchise - they can range anywhere from 3-10 years depending on the provider. Naturally it goes without saying that you have to have the ability to demonstrate a premises lease and a franchise agreement that backs up the loan amortization!


The basic initial requirement of any business financing and it certainly is the case for franchisee finance is that you need to demonstrate a solid business plan and financial forecast. If you need help in preparing one numerous avenues of assistance are available.

There are 3 basic categories of franchise lenders in Canada. They are the specialty lender. the banks (more on that in a moment), and miscellaneous commercial finance firms that provide different levels of assistance in some but not the total financing need. These might inlcude equipment lessors and working capital specialists.

Franchise owners tend to get their initial equity contributions from savings, family and friends, or via a partnership type arrangement. In general we can safely say that the franchisor itself is not interested in providing financial assistance, so almost always never count on that!

We referenced ' banks '. While banks in general will not finance a franchise directly under a start up term loan thousands of franchises are in fact funded through the BIL/CSBF loan that banks administer and run for the government. This is, on balance, a great source of financing for any start up, franchises included. In certain very specialized industries banks might in fact run a program directly with a franchisor - these franchisors have to be the crème de la crème of the franchise industry . (Think ' hockey and donuts!)

In certain cases you might be looking at the concept of ' refranchising ‘, namely buying from an existing franchisee in your chose franchisors network. There some solid reasons to look at this method of entering franchising:

Customers and financial performance can be documented

Staff and procedures are already in place and hopefully working!

It's much easier to determine financial performance, profits, growth prospects, and asset values.

As in real estate, you may even get a deal with that ' motivated seller'!


So, bottom line? Simply that armed with the right information and expert assistance the franchise financing challenge might not be as tough as you thought. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with franchise funding options expertise.



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = FRANCHISE FUNDING OPTIONS


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/franchising-loans-franchise-funding-options-2.html





CONTACT:
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

Working Capital Credit Funding Needs? No More Excuses On Cash Flow Lending Solutions

Working Capital Headache Cures?


OVERVIEW – .Information working capital credit credit solutions for Canadian business . How does the business owner/manager understand and access funding needs from lending sources that make sense.



Working capital credit challenges seem to give Canadian business owners a lot of headaches.

Do cash flow lending and funding solutions need to do that? We don't think so and here's why... maybe even some cures!

Whether your firm is a start up, maintaining a status quo, or focused on growing like crazy it’s important that you utilize and match assets to the right amount of financing. The principle of matching is very important in business financing; it’s a simple concept - finance your short term assets, i.e. receivables and inventory with short term financing strategies. They include in our case:

Commercial bank lines of credit
Receivable financing via non bank solutions
Inventory financing
Purchase Order/Supply Chain finance
Tax credit monetization
Securitization

One thing business owners/managers should also remember is the importance of supplier trade financing. Let's use the example of a shoe store owner as an example - if he or she can get 60 day terms from a vendor and sell the shoes within thirty days the need for working capital and cash flow diminished significantly.

However, when you are financing fixed assets and your company infrastructure (telecom, computers, machinery, etc) that’s when a term loan or lease financing solution makes the most sense.

Start ups have a larger challenge quite often when it comes to working capital credit needs. Financing operations becomes difficult, mostly because traditional lenders focus on track record, excess collateral, personal guarantees, etc. That's when alternative solutions most often make sense - they might include factoring, non bank asset based lines of credit, etc.

As your business gravitates through the different stages of start up, high growth, mature etc, it becomes more important than ever learn how to analyze your financial position. When you are good at managing that whole process you minimize liquidity issues and maximize profit and returns on your company investment in assets.

The challenge though is that working capital credit is a constant moving target. And if your assets are ' over built ' that might also signify poor quality - i.e. poor inventory and collections resulting in a loss of sales and client /vendor relationships. The one thing that is constant though should be your realization that the longer time it takes for a dollar to ' travel' through your company will always signify the need for more focus on cash flow funding and lending solutions.

There are though numerous ' internal ' methods of addressing working capital credit without external solutions. They include:

- Billing promptly as you sell
- ask for client deposits if applicable in your industry
- charge (and enforce!) interest on past due receivables
- Offer discounts for prompt payment

Creative business owners have long found ways to delay outflows also! They include stretching payments to vendors, not paying items before they are due, negotiating special terms, etc. All of those must be used with the right amount of ' PROCEED WITH CAUTION' of course!

There shouldn't always be just ' excuses ' for your funding needs. Remove the headaches of cash flow challenges by seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor - for working capital credit prescriptions that work.








7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = WORKING CAPITAL CREDIT SOLUTIONS








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 :


CONTACT:
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

Business Leasing Companies In Canada . It’s Not A Secret World When It Comes To Commercial Equipment Financing Options

No Lame Excuses When It Comes To Lease Financing Strategies And Solutions

OVERVIEW – .Information on business leasing companies in Canada . Commercial equipment finance options are abundant if you know the who and how !



Business leasing companies in Canada. When we talk to some clients abut commercial equipment finance options it's almost as if they feel there’s a secret world out there that they have not been brought into. Does that have to be the case? Absolutely not. Let's dig in.

All industries in Canada lease or finance assets. While it might be true that certain larger more sophisticated transactions require some heavy duty expertise it certainly isn’t the case for the mainstream of business asset finance needs.

Canadian business owners and financial managers simply have to have some basics under their belts, so to speak, when it comes to understanding the current leasing marketplace in Canada.

In certain cases it might be some useful knowledge about documentation surrounding the lessee’s rights and obligations - in other instances it might simply mean that a bit of knowledge can save you a lot of time, and money around entering into the right lease transaction - or perhaps substituting that decision with a loan or a bridge loan. Even sale leaseback strategies require a certain amount of expertise that will always save you time and dollars when learned properly.

Many larger corporations and government bodies actually ' tender' their lease financing needs. Other firms simply ' shop around ‘, which also has its drawbacks when it comes to your financial disclosure out in the marketplace, etc.

Do all lessees in Canada understand the true benefits of business leasing? While certain benefits are tried and true and always there -ie conservation of capital, quicker approval, obsolescence hedge, etc there are numerous other benefits , some of which might actually border on intangible that the lessee should be aware of in certain circumstances. The sad reality is that in certain situations lessees think they know the benefits of asset finance - but fail to understand them through poor use of both knowledge and negotiating.

You can spend a lot of time these days on exhaustive ' lease vs. buy ' analysis when it comes to fixed asset acquisition - and having the right tools to make a proper balance decision is key. And it’s not as complicated as you think.

While the Canadian business owner and manger is trying to save money your lessor is trying to make money! All businesses are of course entitled to reasonable profits to exist, but in the case of asset finance it’s critical to understand exactly how the lessor profits and benefits - which occasionally can be at the lessee’s expense. And why is that? As we have said, misinformation or lack of information.

Is it all about rates / interest rates in commercial equipment financing. Clients certainly seem to think so. We don’t. That’s one aspect of the puzzle, but there are many more - including type of lease you enter into, end of term options, upgrade strategies, and on it goes.

If you want to maximize your interaction with business leasing companies in Canada consider seeking out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who is an expert in asset finance solutions. It doesn’t have to be that ' secret world '.




BUSINESS LEASING COMPANIES



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 :

CONTACT :
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