A Franchise Business Loan Shouldn’t Be A Gamble: Make Franchising Finance Strategy Successful

Do You Have What It Takes To Get A Franchise Loan In Canada

OVERVIEW – Information a achieving success in a franchise business loan in Canadian franchising . Franchising finance solutions depend on what you’ve got and how you show it! Here’s why and how



A franchise business loan in Canada seems to be viewed by some as a ‘gamble’

on franchising finance success. We certainly have never looked at it that way, and if you follow that famous Boy Scout motto (BE PREPARED!)
you'll be viewing financing your franchise in terms of a strategy, not a gamble! Let's dig in.




Various types of financing might be required by a franchisee. The most common is probably a term loan - typically with a 5-7 year term, fixed interest rates, and a therefore predictable monthly outflow of cash in terms of the loan. Naturally the amount of the purchase, coupled with your down payment or equity installment determines the ' monthly damage'!

In almost 99.99% of the time your ability to repay the loan will come from sales and profits you generate in the business. That’s where a serious amount of time needs to be spent on your cash flow forecast - it’s a task not loved by all but very necessary. And frankly if you don't want to do it yourself there is a lot of help available from your banker, accountant, or a Canadian business financing advisor.

We often hear the expression that you shouldn’t assume anything.

However, assumptions in your cash flow forecast are critical relative to revenue growth, expenses, owner draws, future investments required in the business, etc.

Security for a franchise business loan in Canada typically is the personal guarantee of the borrower, as well as the collateral financed inside the business. That typically exists of equipment and leasehold improvements.

If the franchisee is dealing with either a specialty lender, or utilizing the Canadian small business loan program to finance the business typically no outside collateral will be required. That tends to be great news for the wives and husbands of new franchisees who don't have to put the family home on the line. We see many franchise owners that mortgage their homes to purchase a franchise - in hindsight this tends to be a failed strategy - in essence they have ' too much' equity in the business and are putting personal asset at risk in case of problems down the road .

As we have hinted the success you have in financing your new venture is clearly tied to your business plan / executive summary. Many clients we meet have that ' glazed look' when we start discussing preparation of their plan. It's a lot more common sense than you think.

Elements of your plan will hinder, or guarantee franchising finance success. Our key tips in this area include:

Focusing on the basics - start up risk mitigation. Cash flow & profit projections

A clear summary of how revenues will be achieved and how expenses can be contained

Strong focus on the franchisor, the industry you are entering (hospitality, service, etc), client growth, etc - Some good industry data helps re trends, competition, etc

Conservative financial projections that make sense when it comes to making money and paying your franchise loan(s)


In fact the business plan can be a great document to revisit on a monthly or annual basis to determine what’s working, what didn’t work.

Take the gamble out of franchising finance risk - Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can ensure you've got what it takes to be a franchisee entrepreneur.


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/franchise-business-loan-franchising-finance.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

Working Capital Management A Priority : Cash Flow Finance Explanations And Solutions In Canada

The Science And Fiction Of Working Capital



OVERVIEW – Information on working capital management in Canada . Understanding cash flow finance for management of assets and financing solutions just got easier

Working capital management in Canada should be a priority for Canadian business owners and financial managers. So when it comes to understanding cash flow finance we maintain it’s a bit of a science (or art?) and there’s a bit of fiction or fallacy in some of the information out there. Need clarification? Let's dig n.


As a business the levels of your ' working capital ' determines the amount of cash you will need and use in your day to day operations and growth plans.
We are always somewhat amused at the ' textbook ' definition of working capital, which maintains that if your current assets such as accounts receivable and inventory are ok to be converted to cash within a year you have... you got it... working capital. Another fallacy, it seems to us at least, is that the larger current ratio is desirable.

In our words those last two points are a bit of the ' fiction ' we're talking about. Why? Simply because in the real world (that’s where we work everyday) asset turnover needs to happen with a lot more emphasis than a 1 year timeframe. Furthermore, if you delve deeply into the text book definition of current ratio liquidity you just might find that great current ratio your accountant, or banker, maintains you have simply masks poor turnover of inventories and slow or uncollectible A/R.

The best way to determine if your working capital is ' working ' is to take a close look at your operating cycle. That’s the time it takes for 1$ to flow through your company from the point of taking an order to collecting cash

Since working capital management is all about paying and reducing accounts payable any current assets that can't always cover payables in their turnover must be financed.

Ways to finance working capital cash flow needs? They include:

Bank lines of credit
Non bank asset based lines of credit facilities
Accounts Receivable Financing
Inventory Financing
PO Financing
Tax credit monetization of SR&ED Receivables
Working Capital term loans

In all cases except for the above mentioned working capital term loans you are not taking on debt, you're just monetizing assets.

Always track the level of current and projected sales in relation to your cash flow and working capital needs. Sales are not ' gratis' - they have costs associated with them, and remember that profit does NOT equal cash on hand.

If you're looking for cash flow finance solutions and management tips seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in sorting out the fact and fiction of working capital management and finance.


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 = Working Capital & Cash Flow Finance Solutions




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

Business Finance Options In Canada : Corporate Funding Solutions And Alternatives

Waiting for the ‘ Second Coming’

In Business Financing In Canada : It Might Have Already Arrived !


Information on how owners/managers can access business finance options in the Canadian marketplace. Corporate funding alternatives exist in traditional and alternative solutions if you can position your firm properly




Business finance options in Canada, when achievable, provide a sense of security to Canadian business owners and financial managers. When we talk to many clients and business folks they feel their financing solutions are limited; in other cases they know they have options but don't know where to look or who to talk to. Let's dig in.


Our position? The second coming in Canadian business financing might already be here - you just didn’t get the memo!

The reality is there are many traditional and alternative financing strategies that give the owner/manager a broad spectrum of funding alternatives , And trust us, we're not talking about large well funded already public companies with access to capital , equity markets , and Bay Street smarts . Those solutions apply equally as much to the SME (Small to medium Enterprise) sector in Canada.

Financing is of course required for a variety of circumstances; it might be growth, operations, turnaround / recapitalization, and even the acquisition or merger of your firm with/by another.

It's not secret that the Canadian business financing landscape has evolved dramatically in only a few short years since the 2008/2009 financial debacles every company on the planet felt the brunt of.

There is one huge irony

we've observed - the constant message by Canadian banks and financial pundits that there is a lot of corporate funding and capital alternatives available to business. Yes, we agree, it’s just that the hurdles to achieve those goals seem much higher. The bar has been raised.

So how does the owner/manager, whether it be a start up or a mid market size type firm achieve access to financing. First of all they need to know if they are looking for and suited for the right amount of ' debt' or ' equity '. As importantly they need to know who to access for that funding - it might be a bank, but it also might equally be available from independent commercial finance companies and asset based cash flow lenders.

Naturally it takes a bit of time to search out these alternatives, and to feel secure you are dealing with and talking to the right parties. Here is might be highly advisable to seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
who can assist you in positioning your business for the financing it deserves

What then are some of those solutions and finance options? They include:

Receivables financing

Inventory finance

Sale leaseback

Equipment leasing

Bridge loans

Commercial bank lines of credit

Asset based non bank credit line facilities

Term loans/ Working Capital Term loans

Government SBL loans ( max to 350k)

Securitization

Mezzanine Financing


How to approach those solutions? The way we do it with clients is pretty straightforward:

Understand your current financial position

Ensure a cash flow or business overview/plan is available

Commit time to speaking to qualified capital sources

Pick the financing alternative that is achievable in current circumstances

In essence you want to properly ' navigate’ those sometimes complex financing waters.

When you understand your current liquidity and capital structure issues you've clearly discovered, you guessed it, the 2nd coming of business financing and corporate funding in Canada.



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 = Canadidan Business Finance Options


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

Stop Worrying And Embrace AR Finance Solutions In Canada : Understanding Factor Pricing and Benefits

A Quick Dive

Into The Math Of A/R Financing – Going Undercover In Factoring Receivables




OVERVIEW – Information on the different methods and cost of AR Finance solutions in Canada . Factoring receivables via a confidential receivable financing solutions works when you understand the math and benefits








AR finance solutions in Canada go under various ' pseudonyms ' - they include ‘factoring’, ' invoice discounting’ etc. Not only can the names be confusing sometimes (there are some subtle differences in each type); actual arithmetic around this type of financing is clearly not understood by clients we meet and talk to. Let's dig in.

Therefore if there's a theme or message it’s both the ' COST' and the ' STYLE ' of this growing method of financing your business.

When it comes to recommending what type of receivable financing solution you look into we're clearly recommending ' CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVABLE FINANCING '. It, like traditional factoring, invoice discounting, etc is a subset of what we can broadly term ' asset finance ‘. The key benefit of this method of business financing is clear - monetizing your sales as soon as they become accounts receivable!

Unlike traditional forms of A/R finance your company is responsible for all billing and collections, and the better you manage your accounts the more cash flow and less financing costs will become very apparent.

Why does the business owner want the ability to manage their own business and keep their financing private? The more obvious reasons are pretty simple - Canadian business owners and managers feel that their suppliers, competitors, and other parties don't necessarily need to know how their business is financed. Most business people would agree that the posture of Canadian business is more conservative than that in the U.S., which is probably why Confidential A/R finance lends itself very well to the Canadian market.

Another key benefit of financing receivables in this manner is the ability to get 90% margining of your accounts. This differs from the traditional 75% allowed by Canadian banks. Funds received from financing in this matter allow your firm to:

Reduce payable levels
Take supplier discounts - enhance vendor relations with key suppliers
Negotiate better pricing based on new found cash ability

As we said the key to understanding why this method of financing might work for your firm is often in the math. Financing is based on a 30 day collection period and costs increase on a ' per diem' basis for your clients that pay later than 30 days. Beware of any facility that doesnt quote you a per diem rate.

Using a $1000.00 invoice as an example it will cost you about 15$ to finance that invoice if your terms of payment are 30 days

The danger of understanding A/R finance pricing comes when business owners and managers compare it to bank financing or working capital term loans. A better way to look at it is to consider it in the same manner as if you were offering a discount to your accounts for prompt payment.

The reality of financing your customers is that a lot of working capital and cost is tied up in your investment in A/R. Confidential A/R financing allows you to operate your company, grow your company, and not take on excessive debt or search for new equity.

Strong asset turnover and new found cash flow allow you to stimulate more sales and generate more profits. 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 cash flow 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 A/R Financing Solutions







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

Financing SR ED And The Film Tax Credit Incentive In Canada : Twin Programs Under The Same Bridge Loan

Surely They Aren’t Serious ?

Business Tax Credits For SR&ED and Film/TV/Digital Projects Are Financeable?


OVERVIEW – Information on financing SR ED ( SR&ED) claims and the Canadian film tax credit incentive . Bridge loans for these two refundable credits enhance cash flow and working capital




SR ED and Film Tax incentives in Canada financeable? We're the first to admit it when we heard that many years back, but it certainly proved to be 100% true. Let's dig in.

The key word on these two programs is clearly ' incentive' because these two separately sponsored programs under Canada Revenue Agency are clearly incenting industry (when it comes to the SR&ED program) and Media (when it comes to generous refundable tax credits in the areas of film, TV, and digital media/animation).

While the financing of SR&ED credits via bridge loans has pretty well stayed the same ( in fact any changes have been actually positive!) the whole area of research tax credits has been the ultimate moving target

for a couple of years now . Industry, and the SRED consultants that prepare these claims, have clearly been scrutinized significantly, and all the ' adjustments' to the program have now been seemingly rationalized by all parties. In effect the program was perceived as ‘ not working ‘.

Those changes also in fact have affecting the claims that are financed, as in some cases SR&ED loans are smaller as equipment in the ' Capital expenditures' area is not eligible after 2014 , and as another specific example : outside contractor costs/expenses were also reduced. CRA also has invested more funds in the scrutiny and audit of claims.

Not all changes to the SR ED incentive were perceived as negative though... most view the streamlined online application form as positive, and those SR& ED consultants that for the most part perform their work on ' CONTINGENCY ' (they take a % of your total claim as their fee) certainly in many cases ' cleaned up their act '

as only credible consultants survived the scrutiny of their fees, reputations, etc.

Film tax incentives also offer billions of dollars each year to the Canadian media industry. It also involves an application process that in most cases is championed by a ' tax credit accountant ' - in effect a version of our aforementioned SR ED consultant. Different industry, same type of guy or gal!

As revenue opportunities abound and in fact grow due the rapidly changed method in which media is sold and then viewed Billions of dollars also are available to projects that properly qualify and file for film tax credits.

The success of the Canadian film tax incentive is clearly at the expense of other countries in many cases, as Canada does a great job of ' luring' productions under various co treaties, generous combined federal and provincial credits, and a reputation of fiscal stability and ongoing funding.

Have we forgotten anything?

Oh yes, just the main subject today, which is that FINANCING SR ED and the FILM TAX CREDIT INCENTIVE is 100% possible. A great recent addition to financing these two credit programs is your ability to potentially finance claims that are not yet filed, bringing even more cash flow into your company or project.

Tax credit loans are almost always structure as no monthly payment bridge loans, with the tax credit (SR ED or Film) as the main collateral. Naturally your financing claim has to have some depth, such as good management, potentially a previous positive claim record, etc.

So, serious? Absolutely. Consider financing trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in maximizing the true benefits of your claims - CASH FLOW!


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 Tax Credit 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

Why Business Credit Doesn’t Have To Be An Epic Battle When It Comes To Loans And Sources Of Finance

Has Taking On Business Financing In Canada Changed?

OVERVIEW – Information on changing trends and solutions for business credit in Canada for the SME sector .Sources of Loans and finance alternatives have changed dramatically







Has business credit and access to financing solutions really changed that much in Canada. It has if you talk to many of the clients we meet, many of whom consider it an epic battle

to access the financing they need to run, and as importantly, grow their companies. Let's dig in.

While Canadian chartered banks are doing as great as they always have many firms in the SME ( small to medium enterprise ) sector feel the credit borrowing standards for loans and other bank solutions have in fact not eased to the extent the banks maintain they have since the 2008 global implosion.

When you think about it , it’s all about getting credit, and ‘ giving ‘ credit, as your ability to provide credit terms to clients that match their needs can make or break your business. And both of those issues, i.e. accessing credit, and supplying credit to your clients affect profits, sales, and cash flow. It’s a holy triumvirate of sorts.

So what does the business owner/financial do when they find themselves ' discouraged' by the lack of business financing solutions? One alternative is in fact just that... ‘Alternative financing ' via non bank solutions.

When it's all about ' Cash flow ' and access to credit lines, term loans and equipment financing numerous solutions are available. Some are what we could call ' direct replacements' for bank solutions; others are derivatives or extensions of what main street calls ' Traditional Financing '.

A recap of these solutions? We thought you would never ask!

They include:

Factoring

Confidential Receivable Financing

Working Capital Term Loans

Purchase Order Financing

Bridge Loans

P O Financing

Mezzanine Financing

Inventory Financing

Asset based non bank lines of credit

Securitization

Govt SBL loans

Tax Credit Monetization for SR&ED and Film refundable credits

The need for cash flow and working capital solutions is a dynamic one, we can easily call it a ' moving target ‘. Many of the alternative solutions referenced above relate to what the finance industry calls ' bulge' requirements that arise over time with the ebb and flow of business success and challenges. The bottom line - Simply that good cash flow and debt financing needs today might, and often aren't there tomorrow.

Qualifications of course vary for each alternative finance solution, but suffice to say that since they are all ' non bank' in nature they are infinitely more achievable when you have assets, sales, and prospects that can be substantiated.

Is business credit important to Canadian owners and financial managers? It is if you believe cash flow is king. Never ' bank' on the fact that your firm is un- financeable - Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in fighting that epic battle for loan and finance success in Canada.



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 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

Financing A Franchise In Canada : Qualifications For Franchising Loan Success Explained

Do You Qualify For Franchise Financing In Canada ?

OVERVIEW – Information on financing a franchise in Canada . When it comes to finance qualifications for a franchising loan it’s important to know the criteria and what counts!




Financing a franchise in Canada comes with certain qualification criteria the franchisee must meet. What are these criteria, and what is the best way to overcome any obstacles in borrowing success for the Canadian franchisee entrepreneur? Let's dig in.

Business loans come with qualifiers, and when it comes to a franchising loan there's no difference there. Criteria for qualification and approval are made by specialty franchise lenders, banks, and commercial finance companies which often supplement and compliment a franchise finance package.

Fundamental to any financing proposal is the required reasonable personal credit history of the borrower. But how is this determined? The majority of the times it’s simply based on two fundamental factors - the personal ' net worth ' of the franchisee, and his or her credit rating at credit bureaus. (There are two main credit bureaus in Canada and your score won’t be dramatically different at one of the other). It's a numerical scoring system wherein a score of 650 is in fact the ' magic number ‘.

The net worth statement itself couldn’t be more basic - it’s a financial form that you complete that simply sows assets and liabilities - in simpler language, what you have and what you owe.

In Canada banks do a great job of advertising small business and franchise programs - the general consensus from' the street ' though is that the aggressive advertising is sometimes not reflective of the actual approval possibilities.

We'll leave it at that.









But when it comes to banks in Canada they don't necessarily finance franchises directly ( without a lot of personal collateral backing up the loan ) - they do however have specific programs in place with some of the larger well known franchisors that can fast track an approval . (Think hamburgers/clowns and hockey/donuts)

Where a Canadian chartered bank can do a great job for you (if you're working with the right banker) is under the auspices of INDUSTRY CANADA'S CSBF/BIL program, more commonly called the 'SBL ' loan.
Here's where any franchising loan fewer than 350k that covers assets and leaseholds (not working capital though) can be financed with solid terms - those include good interest rates, low personal guarantee, no repayment penalty, aggressive amortizations.

Other criteria for success in franchising loans include a solid business plan and cash flow projection, information on the background and expertise of the borrower, as well as effective narrative highlighting the current success of the franchisor.

If you are looking to succeed in the franchise industry in Canada financing a franchise properly is key to your success. 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 loan 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 :


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/financing-a-franchise-franchising-loan.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