Our blog highlights Canadian Business Financing solutions via receivable finance , equipment finance, working capital financing, asset based lending, business acquisition financing,franchise finance, and tax credit monetization via SRED and Film Tax Credits. Our goal is to educate and assist Canadian businesses with their financing needs. You Are Looking For Canadian Business Financing! Welcome to 7 Park Avenue Financial Call Now ! - Direct Line - 416 319 5769
WELCOME !
In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.
Every day we strive to consistently deliver business financing that you feel meets the needs of your business. If you believe as we do that financing solutions and alternatives exist for your firm we want to talk to you. Our purpose is simple: we want to deliver the best business finance solutions for your company.
Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Start Up Business Financing For Assets In Canada : Where Does Funding Your Startup Begin ?
LOOKING FOR RELATIONSHIP ADVICE? TODAY'S TIP : Use the relationship between sales and receivables to measure your operating results and the
investment you have in receivables. Create a simple spreadsheet to show credit sales at the end of the quarter divided by a/r outstanding. You will have a solid understanding of your efficiency in collecting your accounts and it can help identify external financing needs such as A/R financing requirements.
How To Win At Start Up Financing In Canada
OVERVIEW – Information on start up business financing in Canada. Funding start up business asset requirements is often achieved through equipment leasing but this options is not always available – one other alternative is
Start Up business financing in Canada . We are often asked by clients how assets can be financed in the startup funding stage. One obvious solution is generally not achievable, and you may have not considered one other option... which... works! Let's dig in.
Canadian entrepreneurs who have committed some of their own personal capital to a business will almost always need to add additional financing to any new business launch. One of the most obvious asset financing ' go to's' in Canada is equipment financing.
But can equipment leasing satisfy the needs of business owner if a business is new, in start up mode, or very early stages of revenue generation. The answer? More often than not... it can't.
So why does the equipment lease solution not work for a start up. The answer to that lies in the approval process and criteria of Canadian lessors. That's because historical and present cash flow are often a key part of the approval criteria for an asset loan. Notwithstanding the fact that an asset is also the collateral a very large emphasis is placed on ' cash flow ' analysis for transactions that are deemed no longer ' small ticket'.
By the way, although it might be a mystery to some as to how the lessor calculates that cash flow it shouldn’t be, so in effect potential lessees can pre-qualify themselves by understanding that cash flow analysis formula. The lessor will more often than not take you net income, add depreciation, and that amount must typically cover 12 months of your lease payment in a positive manner, with hopefully some left over for other needs. So now you know!
But all our discussion here has not provided an answer for the entrepreneur who needs assets to finance a business in start up mode.
So one solution that we constantly recommend to clients is a Canadian Small business loan, formally called the BIL, or CSBF program. We throw in our own acronym. The ' SBL '.
When traditional financing requires strong outside collateral or other compensating matters the SBL loan requires only your ' promise to pay '. Oh and by the way, that promise is even limited in some extent, as the guarantee required is only 25% of the total financing you receive.
Key benefits of the program are:
Competitive rates
Long amortizations if needed - (5-7 years)
Limited 25% Personal guarantee of owners
No repayment penalty
No outside collateral required
All business assets, including technology assets and software, as well as even ' leasehold improvements can be financed under the program. Frankly you can even buy an existing business also under the same program.
Sometimes the obvious just doesn't work in business. So while the experts tell us that over 80% of all businesses in Canada utilize lease financing startup firms can rarely achieve the financing they need in this manner.
Consider the SBL solution and seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can help you ' win' the start up challenge.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Start Up Financing Expertise
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
Stan Prokop
Monday, January 13, 2014
Accounts Receivable Finance In Canada : Heard The One About Why This Financing Facility Works ?
In case you didn’t know An Accounts Receivable Financing Facility Works : Here’s Why !
OVERVIEW – Information on accounts receivable finance in Canada. Why does this type of financing facility offer the best of all worlds when it comes to access to cash flow and business credit
Canadian business owners and financial managers are hearing more and more about the concept of ‘factoring ‘their accounts receivable as a cash flow solution and overall strategy. Increasing numbers of companies are investigating what most people consider to be an ‘alternative financing’ strategy.
‘Alternative ‘clearly is in the context of alternative to a Canadian chartered bank line of credit. As Canadian companies build up their investments in accounts receivable ( and inventory ) they are finding it more difficult than every to ensure that their customers are paying them on time, typically not receiving those payments in 30 days per the terms they provide to their customers . Naturally the current somewhat difficult economic environment as we head into the 2010 Business year lends itself to slow paying receivables.
Management therefore is paying more and more attention to managing cash flow, and, most notably, this is taking more and more of senior management and business owner time.
The basic challenge is as simple as it gets - suppliers, landlord, and, dare we say it, your employees want to get paid on time , while the source of that cash is tied up in receivables that are paid in , many times 60-90 days.
Enter Factoring as a potential solution that will allow the Canadian company to benefit from increased cash flow, albeit at a cost. Just to be clear, the term factoring is also referred to as ‘invoice discounting’ and ‘accounts receivable financing ‘.
The mechanics at the outset seem overly simple . You send your invoice (or invoices) to the ‘factor’ firm who immediately, usually same day, sometimes next day, issues you funds for that invoice or group of invoices. All of a sudden you immediately have the working capital and cash flow to run your business.
Let’s be clear, this is not a loan per se. It is an immediate advance of funds against money owing to your firm for products and services you have delivered. We used alternate term ‘invoice discounting’ as noted above. The ‘discount ‘referred to be the amount of the finance charge the lender keeps for carrying the receivable.
We cant over emphasize the fact that the funds generated from an accounts receivable financing facility such as we have describe should be used for short term working capital needs . You need to view the factoring facility in exactly the same manner as your bank line of credit (if you had one!)
So more about the potential ‘benefit ‘of factoring that we have alluded to. We can somewhat easily say that a factoring facility can be set up in fairly short time, certainly in much less time than it would take for your firm to negotiate a bank cash term loan or a Canadian chartered bank line of credit. Another benefit? It’s simply that you receive that much needed cash same day. A very significant amount of the invoices, usually 80-90% is ‘advanced ‘to your firm the same day. The difference is held back as a temporary holdback, and remitted to your firm, less the finance fee, when you customer pays.
We have focused on some of the benefits of factoring, such as the strong cash flow aspect of this type of facility, and its ease of set up once you have found a solid partner firm. However, the cost of the facility is usually between 1 -3% of the invoice amount for a 30 day period – Naturally you entered into such a facility because your customers probably weren’t paying you in 30 days already, so you can see that the financing fees can add up .
So, as in all business evaluations there are trade offs – if you firm can absorb the financing costs with adequate profit margins on your products and services you can categorically benefit from a factoring, aka working capital facility .! Oh , by the way Consider our recommended solution – CONFIDENTIAL ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE FINANCING that allows you to bill and collect your own receivables with no notification to clients or your suppliers . It works!
What does that mean for you? It means that when you work with us, you’re working toward a financial solution that caters to the unique needs of your business. We don’t hand out cookie-cutter solutions to our clients and send them on their way – instead, we listen to the needs of your business, and then match your unique situation with an ideal lender for those needs.
This ensures that turnaround times are workable, avoiding costly delays that can arise when a business isn’t matched with a lender or financing program that works for them. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in your cash flow and working capital needs.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Accounts Receivable Financing Facility Expertise
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
Contact:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
What’s Behind Business Acquisition Financing Opportunities In Canada
The One Thing You Need To Know About These Five Things In Business Acquisition
OVERVIEW – Unique challenges and opportunities exist for Canadian entrepreneurs who are looking for financing for business acquisition opportunities . Here are 5 methods that work
Financing a business acquisition , or merger, can be accomplished in a number of ways in Canada. In fact 5 obvious solutions exist, and yes, here's one thing you need to know about them - They all work. Let's dig in.
When it comes to purchasing an existing business we think it's all about knowing your alternatives. Entrepreneurs who wish to purchase a business understand that buying , ( or turning around ) an existing business can often happen a lot more quickly than organic growth or starting from true ' start up' mode.
Those same entrepreneurs also often quickly realize that it's not that easy to finance the purchase through what some might term ' traditional ' sources of capital .- a lot of that having to do with tightening of business credit since the 2008-2009 global financial meltdown.
It might seem too obvious but in fact one the ways to finance the purchase of a company is via personal savings. We think the best route to follow is to ensure you have a good ' combo' of both personal equity and additional 3rd party financing. That often leaves you with the right combination of both ' debt' and ' equity ‘- too much of either is rarely good.
Naturally a lot of risk is eliminated when significant personal finances are utilized. but putting all your personal capital at risk also has its downside! It should be also mentioned that 3rd party financing often, (but not always) requires a solid equity component
An obvious form of financing a business acquisition opportunity is often not that obvious. It's financing via the seller, via a ' VTB' - its seller financing via a vendor take back. Your ability to structure a transaction creatively is unlimited when it comes to working with a responsible seller who is motivated to participate in the successful financing, often at the risk of giving up some of the tax benefits that come with his or her sale of the business.
Want to waste a lot of time in financing a business opportunity. Hands up for that one! What we're referring to the endless search we've seen many clients take on in dealing with Private Equity, Venture Capital, and Angel Investors relative to financing the purchase or merger of a business in the Commercial SME sector in Canada. Our quick summary on that one? Simply that those sources of finance are meant for much larger transactions in the millions and tens of millions , take a lot of time to consummate, and have some stringent requirements around the financial criteria .
Going to the other end of the extreme have you considered the Canadian government as a partner in financing an acquisition. That is accomplished very nicely via the Govt BIL/CSBF program which provides financing up to 350k for transactions. It's a great source of financing for SME type transactions. and can also be utilized for existing franchises.
Canadian chartered banks and commercial financing companies (Asset based) also provide financing under criteria relating to assets, leaseholds, current capital structure, and current operating success of the business. An asset based financing can often properly be accomplished via an ABL facility that monetizes current and fixed assets.
There you have it, 5 solid methods behind the financing of a business purchase in Canada. Seek out and speak to a
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Business Acquisition Financing Expertise
Today’s Business Relationship Advice :
Use the relationship between ‘ Sales ’ and ‘ Receivables’ to help plan your cash flow needs. Create a simple spreadsheet to track only 3 items – Sales, A/r balance, and the % change in these balances over time. This data will changes in operating efficiencies and will pinpoint present and future needs for Accounts Receivable Financing.
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue FinancialSouth Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Fax = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
Stan Prokop
Friday, January 10, 2014
Franchising Loans In Canada : This Is How You Finance A Franchise
Don’t Miss The Golden Age Of Franchise Opportunities Due To Financing – This Is Gonna Be Good!
OVERVIEW – Information on franchising loans in Canada. When it comes down to how to finance a franchise the right information and expertise guarantees entrepreneurship success.
When it comes to how to finance a franchise in Canada the ability of the franchisee to complete that process successfully allows him or her to enter an industry that for all intents and purposes is... booming! We suppose we can even call it the ' Golden Age ' as a huge portion of today’s economy is in fact derived from the franchise industry itself. Let's dig in.
Only two types of financing best address funding a franchise. It boils down to either a specialty firm that funds this type of venture or a Canadian chartered bank that participates in , again, ' specialized' financing such as Canada's CSBF program - which is often perfectly suited to complete the financing required in assets such as equipment and leasehold improvements.
We should mention also that it is very possible to finance a franchise purchase for an existing franchise - with the two caveats being that of course the franchisee will want to determine the true motives for the existing franchisee wanting to sell the business ; as well as obtaining the required permission and approval from the franchisor.
Again in both of the above cases specialty franchise finance and bank financing are potentially available to complete the transaction.
As with any time of business financing in Canada a solid loan package must be evident for franchising loans to be approved based on your requirements. The typical loan package should not seem like a daunting process - it’s essentially info about yourself, your business, and your prospects.
Included in that ' loan package’ will typically be the following:
Personal financial data - i.e. net worth, credit history, etc
Business Plan
Cash Flow
List of items to be financed - (this should be broken down into several categories, including items to be financed by the owner, assets, leaseholds, franchise fees, etc
Note also that careful attention in the business plan and cash flow should be paid to repayment of the loan, future financing needs, and the amount of owner capital being put into the business.
We often are asked by clients if the reputation or size of the franchise is a key factor in financing approval. On balance we can say that is not necessarily the case and certainly if your franchisor has an existing portfolio of corporate or franchisee locations that is successful size clearly ' doesnt' count!
One technical point is that ' service ' franchises are very difficult to finance since they have little need for hard assets, leaseholds and are often cash based businesses. A good example might be a Home Inspection franchise.
Franchising loans should be tailored to individual needs, as that relates to term of the financing, rates, repayment, external collateral, etc. When it comes to external collateral, unless you are financing the venture predominantly on your own both a specialty franchise firm, or a CSBF loan will typically require no external personal collateral - i.e. mortgages on your home, security deposits, etc.
Franchising in Canada is experiencing tremendous success. Prospective Franchisees considering this entrepreneurship option should seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist them in how to finance a franchise properly to ensure maximum chances of growth and profit success.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Franchise Financing Expertise
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
Stan Prokop
Thursday, January 9, 2014
Solving The Debate About The Business Line Of Credit In Canada : Rates And Other Issues And Alternatives
Stranded In A Business Line Of Credit Wasteland?
OVERVIEW – Information on business line of credit alternatives in Canada. Rates and other factors to consider when working capital and cash flow financing are critical to survival and growth
The business line of credit in Canada is used to finance the growth and operations of your business when that can not be done by owner capital and self financing sufficiency. But many owners/financial managers find themselves in positions where they don’t fully understand the 2 types of business credit facilities, what they cost, and how they work. Let's dig in.
So what are those two alternatives ? Naturally answer # 1 from clients we meet and talk to is of course the Canadian chartered bank credit facility . The other, less common, but more popular everyday is the non bank business line of credit. This facility (not always, but more often than not) cost more, but offers more liquidity, is easier to obtain, and grows with the size of your business assets.
The major qualifier for bank credit lines is pretty simple - good financial statements. Those statements must of course reflect good equity, profits, and reasonable debt load.
If those qualifiers can't be met in their entirety the ' ABL ' asset backed credit line is a very solid option. Common structures for the facility are similar to bank lines - the margining of receivables and inventory. The difference is that you have a much higher ' borrowing base ' around those two assets based on their ongoing values.
Receivables are typically financed at 90% of their value, and inventory, depending on its nature is financed anywhere from 25-75% of its value.
For both types of credit lines the owner/manager can assume that financing charges are only being applied on what is outstanding and utilized by your firm. While bank facilities have fixed approved limits, asset backed credit lines have limits but are easily adjustable if your firm is growing sales and current assets. Note that one other interesting aspect exists with the alternative ' ABL' facility. That aspect includes the financing of your equipment and fixed assets, which are, in effect, bundled into the total credit line.
The business owner/manager can therefore quickly see that the ability to borrow much more on inventory and A/R, as well as using fixed assets for additional borrowing quickly translates into a lot more working capital and cash flow for your business, when you need it.
When your firm utilizes a bank line of credit it's of course all done through one operating account that the bank monitors. In the case of asset based credit facilities various methods can be used to facilitate the actual management of the account. That needs to be addressed because the ABL firm is usually not a bank but a private commercial finance company.
If you feel you're stranded in a ' wasteland ' of lack of credit and working capital alternatives seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can ensure your firm has the ability to access rates , structures and the amount of working capital you require to fund and grow your business.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Business Line Of Credit Expertise
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
Stan Prokop
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
Eliminating Business Loan Wind Chill : Understanding Bank Financing In Canada
The Unbearable Lightness of Being A Canadian Business Borrower
OVERVIEW – Information on business loan success in Canada . Bank financing and other forms of financing your company requires an understanding of these issues
Most business owners and financial managers aren't necessarily aware of the methods and factors that banks utilize to control and monitor their loan facilities with commercial customers. We are talking about two types of loans essentially, term loans, and also operating lines of credit, also called 'revolvers' by some. (Revolver - the credit line revolves, it goes up and down on a daily basis...)
Banks essentially use several different strategies to ensure they have maximum control and influence on the business borrower.
Banks often are reluctant to allow maximized borrowing from other parties for asset growth. Why? This is because when a customer has to service the additional non- bank debt they might be unable to service the banks loans. Banks have very well known and published cash flow ration and they want to ensure their customers can meet these rations on the bank debt. Naturally if a bank feels comfortable with a customer growth and cash flow profits they are much more likely to approve a third party financing. If they aren't comfortable they may ask the company to at lease temporarily defer bonuses, dividends, or, in the case of a public company, a stock repurchase.
Bankers of course usually know the company very well, as a relationship and financial history has developed over the years. They will often want to have input into the company's growth direction in an effort to ensure the customer is not going down a path that in their opinion, might lead to liquidity loss or profitability loss. This sort of 'advice' from a bank can come in a number of manners, one of which is simply providing a debt to equity ratio that cannot be overlooked by the customer.
Business owners know that it is no ones best interest for the bank to trigger a default on a loan - it's clearly a case where both parties have a lot to lose. However if a bank feels on a number of fronts that the customer is spiraling downward they will take steps to ensure their loans are provided for.
What are some of those downward spiraling scenarios?
They include:
Cash flow deterioration
Asset erosion
Working capital problems
Again, the worst case scenario is the bank 'calling the loan '. We have agreed this benefits no one, so the bank usually prefers (as does the customer!) to return to the bargaining table. At this time business owners are strongly cautioned to prepare a corrective action scenario to satisfy the bank. It is at this time that the bank normally considers an interest rate increase, or more restrictive covenants.
We also want to point out to business owners that banks want to ensure that there is a proper ' matching ' of financing. By that we mean that the bank does not want the customer to borrow short term to finance long term scenarios. For this reason working capital ratios are put into place.
Finally banks utilize whets known as a 'negative pledge 'clause. This forces the company to consult the bank when pledging other assets or selling unencumbered assets. If such sales are agreed to the proceeds are usually used pay down the bank.
In summary, it benefits business owners to understand the whys and wherefores of bank strategy and influence and control around business loan scenarios. Understand where the bank is coming from allows a business owner to more proactively plan financing growth with a view towards successful financing. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you with your business capital needs.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
7 Park Avenue Financial = Canadian Business Loan Financing Expertise
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
Stan Prokop
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Business Operating Cycle And Cash Flow : You’d Be Surprised At Just What It Really Means And Shows
Here’s What Cash Flow Really Means To Your Business
OVERVIEW – Information on the cash flow financing statement in Canada. How can business owners really understand their operating cycle and finance needs
The 'operating cycle' is a distinct part of any business. Frankly we believe that most business owners intuitively know it exists - they just didn't know it had a name.
The operating cycle is the repetitive pattern of a turnover of a businesses current assets and liabilities. Let's examine that in a bit more detail. In essence each business established within their company, and probably within their industry, a repetitive pattern of turnover.
In the first phase of the operating cycle a business, unless it is a service business, buys inventory and materials which they will resell to customers. Normally these goods are obtained on credit. The company buys product, and obviously has an account payable to that supplier. So we find that company paying their supplier, cash goes down and inventory goes up. So far so good.
In phase two of the operating cycle the company sells product to a customer. More often than not it sells on credit - this generates accounts receivable - the good news is that the company can finally record sales, or revenue.
In phase three, the final phase of our operating cycle, the company collects the receivable and converts the entire process we have gone through back into cash.
Yes, our analysis is over simplified, and of course behind all these processes the company has administrative and sales costs that back up the entire operating cycle. All of these costs are in some manner related to the final sale and have some sort of contribution in that regard.
We also need to remember that through the entire process bank loans or working capital facilities regularly turn over.
Each company and industry has a different operating cycle - within each industry some companies are clearly doing better than others.
One of the best know ways to measure a firms operating cycle is a formula created by the DUPONT COMPANY many years ago - not surprisingly the formula is called the DUPONT FORMULA!
The formula looks at relationships, or ratios, in the balance sheet and income statement and provides solid ways of measuring the operating cycle and how it affects a company's profit, and operations. It provides a lot of insight into how a company can improve profitability by emphasizing asset turn over and showing how it's important as sales. Even a non- financial person should be able to understand this - we are simply saying that if a company get buy something, sell it, and collect the money fast and start all over that will increase profits over a company who takes twice as long to repeat that entire process. Sales are not always the be all and end all! A company, using DUPONT, can show that even if they make a little less on each sale, but turn over inventory and receivables faster, can do as well or better than the competitor.
In summary, a true understanding of the operating cycle allows a business owner or financial manager to focus on expenses, asset turn over, and margins, and see the inter - relationship of all these three components of a business. Understanding and improving your operating cycle will make your firm a leader, not a laggard, in your industry.
Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you with cash flow finance needs that complement your operating cycle.
Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com
Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/cash-flow-financing-statement.html
Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8
Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653
Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com
' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '
Stan Prokop