Government Loans For Business : Your Reboot On SBL Canada Government Loans

7 Ways To Get On Track With The Canadian SBL Government Loan Program

Information on government loans for business in Canada. SBL Canada loans provide an effective financing vehicle for start up and businesses that have revenues less than 5 Million dollars









Government loans for business in Canada are getting a ' reboot' via some dramatic changes to the program. So SBL Canada (‘small business loan') financing requires some attention from the owner / entrepreneur seeking this type of financing. We’re covering off 7 ‘must knows’. Let's dig in.

We'll step back a minute and recap the landscape for this type of finance. The program specifically is mandated under ' INDUSTRY CANADA' and while the loan has ' the feel ' of government financing the reality is that the actual loan is approved, funded , and administered by our Canadian chartered banks . The two key asset categories are ' fixed assets’, i.e. equipment and real estate, as well as ' leaseholds'.

What the business owner needs to understand therefore is what the program does not financing, and that is items such as inventory, working capital, intangibles, etc.

While the loan assumes you will have some money invested in the business typically this amount is much less than you would require in normal borrowing circumstance.

Simply speaking the overall loan package must reflect some reasonable chances of the loans being repaid. That typically is achieved by a strong business plan that reflects some good owner business experience.

The true beauty of the program also lies in the fact that no outside collateral is required under this method of financing. By the way the current financing limit for the program is $350,000.00 although recent changes suggest higher financing amounts can be approved under the right criteria. New or existing business must have annual real or projected revenues under 5 Million $.

If there's one problem we have noted specifically with the program it's that each of the banks take a different stab at interpreting how they will run the program. While uniformity is desired, unfortunately it doesn't exist. That's our story and we're sticking to it!

For true success in the program it’s all about your loan package, and it’s absolutely not as onerous as you think. In fact with the help of a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success that package can be put together in a couple days. Key elements of the package include owner bio, and being able to demonstrate a good personal credit history. Entrepreneurs who have been credit challenged in the past will have a major problem in getting approved.

The actual business plan or executive summary should profile the business and include a solid cash flow plan and revenue forecast. Supplemental info to help the loan get approved might be copies of any client contracts, your articles of incorporation (proprietorships are ok also), and a copy of your commercial premises lease. You also clearly want to demonstrate the use of the funds, which is typically done via invoices or quotes from your vendors/suppliers.

There you have it. A quick recap required?

1. Understand what the program is and is not
2. Ensure you know what the program actually finances
3. Know that 100% financing is not available under the SBL, and that some owner equity will be required
4. Have a business plan or exec. Summary that highlights your loan request
5. Understand the application process
6. Consider using an experienced business advisor who can fast track your loan
7. Be able to demonstrate your experience and personal financial history


Getting ' on track' with SBL loans in Canada is a solid way to start and grow a 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 SBL SMALL BUSINESS GOVERNMENT LOAN 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

Cash Flow Working Capital Solutions In Canada : What’s Up With Business Financing Services

Correct Time To Assess Business Financing Services & Solutions?

OVERVIEW – Information on business financing services in Canada that can accelerate cash flow and working capital needs for the owner/manager. Why are these tools and solutions important and where are they available








Cash flow and working capital needs are often ' timeless' in business. But when exactly is the best time to assess business financing services and solutions. It's almost... always. Let's dig in.


Financing needs of course vary by industry and type of business, but if your business requires the means to both manage and accelerate cash flow help is often around the corner. It's just difficult sometimes to find that corner!

The greatest irony in business or at least one of those ironies is the whole concept of sales and profit vs. cash flow performance. Cash flow almost always lags. But can the owner/manager source the tools to solve the problem? Top experts in Canada in fact tell us that working capital solutions are in fact the 2nd most priority for owners/entrepreneurs. (Sales and Mktg. were first)

In some circumstances the amount of gross margin and profit relate directly to the type of financing you can either achieve or handle. A solid example of this might be RECEIVABLE FINANCING, i.e. managing the 2nd most liquid asset on your books next to cash. While A/R finance provides unlimited working capital your firm must have the gross margins to be able to absorb the additional costs that come with that financing service.

Although many businesses operate in industries that are seasonal it’s crucial for the owner /manager to secure either traditional or alternative financing. Businesses are forced to consider those ' alternative ' options when Canadian chartered bank financing is either ' unavailable’... or ' not enough'.

What many business owners and even their financial managers don't realize is that by simply managing current assets better, and effectively ' monetizing ' them allows the company to avoid taking on more debt or raising equity via some source.

What are those ' ASSET MONETIZATION' tools and business financing services? They include:

Bank lines of credit (low cost/flexible/more difficult to attain)

A/R Finance - cash flowing your receivables as soon as sales are generated to the extent you need cash

Inventory Finance - Particularly suited to retailers and mfrs and distributors

Tax Credits - Cash flowing Govt SR&ED Credits

ABL'S - (Non bank Asset based lines of credit that bundle all your current
Assets into one borrowing facility

Purchase Order/Supply Chain Finance - the ability to fund larger orders or contracts where financing otherwise might not be available


Businesses in the SME (small to medium enterprise) commercial area tend to ' struggle' more with business financing challenges. Naturally that slows down their desires to grow dramatically, take on new products and services, or buy a competitor.

The ability to understand your cash flow needs, whether that is monthly, quarterly or annually will almost always benefit ownership/management. Current studies by experts suggest that over 60% of businesses prepare some form of cash flow forecast need.

So kudos to that man or woman that coined ' CASH IS KING' phrase.

If you want to become more ' literate ' to business financing services that can alter your financial success seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
Find out ' what’s up ' with working capital finance solutions that can help change the future success of your company in a positive manner.




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 WORKING CAPITAL AND CASH FLOW 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

Commercial Financing Choices : Evaluation Bridging Finance In Canada : Asset Monetization Bridge Loans vs. Equity

Ready To Triumph In Private Commercial Financing ?



OVERVIEW – Information on bridging finance solutions in Canada . Bridging finance alternatives are compared to equity capital . When do bridge loans and alternative financing make the most sense






Commercial financing for private companies in Canada, or rather, the lack of it has been a challenge for companies in the SME sector (small to medium enterprise) for some time. Let's dig in.

Remarkably even the owners of Canada's largest stock exchange, the TMX Group recently announced capital raising activity for companies whose longer term goal is to ' go public '.

In the mean time the business owner grapples with lack of bank financing, and finds himself or herself considering bridging finance solutions - those bridge loan and alternative finance solutions that are non bank in nature.

Top experts, including those TMX gurus tell us that ' bank loans and venture capital are tougher to come by '. Naturally private financing of a larger nature comes with ' control ' issues, or loss thereof, as the stats tell us that when private equity and VC's are done with your firm they often own majority interest in the business, in fact over 86% of the time!

Financing in the SME sector typically involves amts of 250k and goes up to the 10-15M dollar range. The challenge for the owner is almost always the same - debt, or equity?

The core of bank financing in Canada revolves around the ability of our chartered banks to ensure loaned funds are always secure. If a business does not have cash flow repayment power, or significant unencumbered assets then getting all the financing you need will be difficult. While the entrepreneur dreams of hyper growth the bank dreads it - there go the ratios!

The Canada Small Business Loan program is often a solid alternative for start up or fledgling companies. It's all about the government guaranteeing loans that typically max out at 350k - recent changes to the program have made this program worth watching.

The challenge with taking on debt in commercial financing is simply repayment ability - don't forget also that repayment of bridge and asset loans come at the cost of not being able to plough that money back into the business. Many businesses in Canada become so focused on their debt that the hurdles to growth and success are even higher.

Equity capital in Canada can come from several sources, in addition to the new kid on the block ' Crowd funding’ the owner can also solicit capital from Angel investors, VC's, and strategic partners.

While equity investors rely on sales projections and future valuation and operating margins the asset lender focuses on past and present financial statements. Here the focus is debt load, quality of accounting and cash flows.

Bridging finance solutions in Canada include:

Non bank commercial finance companies

Equipment lessors

Mezzanine lenders

Solutions offered by these firms include:

A/R financing

Inventory Finance

Sale Leasebacks

Royalty and Contract Financing

Franchise loans

SR&ED Tax credit monetization

Asset based lines of credit that bundle A/R, inventory and equipt into one solution

If you're looking to ' triumph' via bridge loans and asset monetization seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your commercial finance 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 COMMERCIAL 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

The Business Credit Line Loan In Canada : Commercial Loans More Easily Understood

Are Your Highly Fuzzy On Business Credit Lines In Canada ?

OVERVIEW – Information on the business credit line loan in Canada . Commercial loans and revolving credit facilities come in all shapes and sizes, and they are offered by many entities the business owner/manager may not have considered








Getting a business credit line loan in Canada can often make the business owner / financial manager in Canada feel somewhat ' highly fuzzy ‘. It's easy to understand as commercial loans in Canada, specifically revolving credit facilities come in different shapes and sizes! Let's dig in.

A credit line is needed for most businesses as it relates to ' operating cycles' - Those cycles are driven by seasonality, the level of current assets in a business ( inventory and receivables ) and the overall timing as it relates to inflows and outflows in a business.

While many business owners are somewhat purposely unfamiliar with Page 3 of their financial statement (the ' statement of cash flows ‘) this is perhaps the most telling document about their business. It's a classic case of what we old school types call ' where got/ where gone '!

So why do commercial loans for a credit facility make sense for a business. Two words basically - GROW / OPERATE...

The natural ' go to ' for most owners, entrepreneurs, financial managers is our Canadian chartered banks as it relates to a business credit line loan. The criteria for approval are simple - but sometimes simply hard to achieve. They include profits, positive cash flows, and overall financial performance of your business as it relates to the balance sheet. By the way, that relates to the owner/owners balance sheets also as banks place emphasis on outside collateral and personal credit worthiness of ownership of the firm.

The credit line at a bank will almost always have a limit, and it becomes the responsibility of owners/managers to ensure the continual drawing down and repayment of the loan is handled in a satisfactory manner.

In some cases a bank might even consider converting a part of the credit line into a term loan .

One strong alternative (What? There are Alternatives?!) to that bank facility is a non bank asset based line of credit. These facilities allow your business to borrow, under one roof, funds against a combination of A/R, inventory and equipment. And while bank credit lines are rigid and reviewed typically annually the Asset credit facility can easily fluctuate according to your needs and sales growth.

It is always important for the company to use these types of loans judiciously. They should almost never be used to purchase assets or make longer term investments in the business. That’s a classic mismatch of the intended use.

In Canada there are what we have called ' sub sets ' of a credit line - These are niche borrowing facilities specifically tailored to your firms or industries specific needs.

They include:

Inventory financing

Factoring/ Confidential Receivable Financing

Purchase Order/ Supply Chain finance

SR&ED tax credit monetization

Royalty financing

Sizes of borrowing will always vary specifically to a firm's needs and actual finance charges will depend on whether your firm has chosen a traditional or alternative financial source.

If achieving business credit lines that make sense for your firm is at the top of your ' TO DO ' list 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 short term borrowing 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 CREDIT LINE LOAN EXPERTISE



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 :






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

Reversing Business Cash Flow Shortages ! Revisit Your Working Capital Needs

What Happens When You Don’t Like Your Business Cash Flow Options ? You Investigate These!

OVERVIEW – Information on business cash flow choices in Canada . How does the business owner/financial manager address working capital needs when things ‘aren't working’











Business cash flow is, more often than not, ' top of mind ' when it comes to solving the working capital conundrum for Canadian business owners and managers. Typically clients we meet want to reverse shortage and find out about other options! Let's dig in.

All business owners / financial managers know that moving a business forward. Factors that affect cash flow include if and how your sales revenues are growing, what financing your business can bear/attract, and the inability in certain times to address financial distress. Of course the perfect world lets you ' self finance ' operations and borrow at low rates only when you need to. Bottom line - it's rarely a perfect world.

So how then does the owner/manager determine when and how to access working capital solutions. Don't forget also that how you manage and access capital forces your behavior on investing in new assets, growth strategies, etc.


Certain clients we meet have an even larger challenge - addressing export markets and non North American clients. More often than not, in fact almost always traditional and alternative lenders alike will insist on things like credit insurance, letters of credit, etc.

Interested in a recap of your actual business cash flow solutions in Canada? They include:

Canadian chartered bank credit facilities

Factoring

Confidential Receivable Financing

Inventory Finance

Tax Credit Monetization

Asset based non bank business lines of credit

Working capital term loans (Secured/Unsecured)

Purchase Order/Contract Financing

EDC Credit Solutions


Royalty Financing



Any business financing solution that you undertake should have you focusing on how that solution will aid you to either operate, or grow the business. You are only going to access incoming cash from the following methods:

Generating sales and collecting receivables
Borrowing
Financing Assets
Selling Assets

We note that selling assets is rarely the optimal owner strategy, but refinancing them using such strategies as the sale leaseback option is a solid way to go about things on occasion. Remember also that borrowing involves taking on debt, so both managing and monetizing existing assets is more often than not the way to run/grow your business.

All too often clients we meet and talk to are flummoxed by the fact that sales and (paper/accounting) profits are great... so they wonder whey they are going broke! Here rules to live by include:

Maintaining a cash flow forecast
Watch term debt obligations carefully
Using short term cash flow financing only when needed
Establishing bank or non bank credit lines

Start up or early stage firms will also have a larger challenge in arranging cash flow financing. Firms that are primarily inventory based also face that challenge.

Our bottom line - if you don’t like your current working capital financing situation , reverse that feeling and seek out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist .



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 CASH FLOW AND WORKING CAPITAL 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

Franchising Loan Taking Too Long ? Franchise Business Loans In Canada

What It Takes For Successful Franchise Funding

OVERVIEW – Information on franchise business loans in Canada . Challenges related to a franchising loan can be overcome with the proper mix of information and expertise




Franchising business loans in Canada often come with a timeline experience that most franchisees have a huge problem in overcoming. How can that timeline for ultimate franchising loan success be shortened? Let's dig in.

Whether the potential franchisee is either purchasing a turnkey operation, or looking for a ' refranchising ' opportunity (i.e. buying an existing business) it’s all about getting approved. In certain cases the type of business opportunity that you purchase will affect financing approval - that might be either for the size of the transaction (too small / too large) or in some cases the type of business you are looking at.

Top experts tell us that currently businesses in the health care and hospitality sectors are ' hot ' - but the multitude of franchise opportunities out there continues to be enormous. The industry itself powers close to half the economy according to some pundits.

The shortfall that a franchisee faces when it comes to a total financing package often comes from owner equity. This certainly makes it even more difficult for entrepreneurs looking to purchase multi unit operations.

Rarely does the franchisor in Canada offer financing options - they sell franchises, they don't finance them - with their franchise fees and royalties helping to financing the expansion of their network.

In certain cases larger well known franchises with broad geographic exposure in Canada have aligned themselves with Canadian banks to offer a finance program. However this by no means guarantees approval and traditional lending criteria still applies. If franchisors were a bit more serious about assisting in the financing process some solutions might be lower franchise fees, royalty flexibility, subsidized financing, etc. Safe to say that probably won't happen!

Three basis finance solutions are available to the franchisee - they include:

Specialty franchise financing

The Govt CSBF loan

Supplemental financing by a variety of commercial financing firms offering equipment financing, merchant cash advances, working capital term loans, etc.

One or a combination of any of the above solutions will start your journey to financing success with the shortest timeline possible. At the end of the day it’s about expertise and information available to the borrower that will ensure faster credit approval.

Information that helps shorten your approval timeline includes a proper loan package that consists of owner personal financial info, a business plan or strong exec. Summary, a cash flow and loan repayment forecast, and pertinent information relating to the franchise you are purchasing regarding franchisor history/prospects.

If you are focused on fast and successful franchising loan approval seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
who can shorten timelines and ensure you are aware of all options.






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/franchising-loan-franchise-business-loans.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

Why The ABL Loan Facility : Believable Business Line Of Credit Financing

Why An ABL Loan Facility Let’s you charge ahead, not retreat, when it comes to growing your business

OVERVIEW – Information on the ABL loan facility in Canada . How does this business line of credit work an why it is different ?






A proper business line of credit allows your firm to charge ahead when it comes to growing a successful and profitable company. That's why when sometimes all else fails an ABL LOAN FACILITY is the way to achieve the proper balance of asset monetization and working capital. Let's dig in.

Much has been written about business being a battle ,

and when your business at the impasse and stalled when it comes to growing sales and financing assets an asset base line of credit offers one solid solution.

In Canada at both the business and consumer level we're well known for ' bank bashing ‘. (Our solution is simple on that one - invest in our banks!) . But when a business can't access the low rate and flexible chartered bank revolving credit facilities there’s an alternative finance sector out there picking up all the slack, and then some.

Billions of dollars are loaned in Canada, via this sector of commercial finance companies, to businesses just like yours that want to unwrap and finance their asset and sales potential.

So why is an ABL loan facility, in effect a business ' non bank line of credit ' unfashionable to some. We're not quite sure, perhaps it's the conservatism in us Canadians that only considers ' banks' as the only solution to business financing challenges.

Asset based credit lines monetize assets and sales - simple as that. So under the umbrella of a business credit line they allow you to borrow against receivables ( i.e. your sales ) , inventories, if applicable, and fixed assets that currently have not lines against them from other lenders such as equipment lessors .

We can already here out clients first reaction to hearing about such facilities. Their only question - ' Sounds too good to be true, so what is the downside?” Our answer all the time? Simply that business is about balance so while financing costs are often (not always) higher these types of facilities provide you with unlimited business credit if you have the sales revenues and assets to back them up. And that comes without, by the way, those ratios, covenants, and outside personal collateral that is often, if not always demanded by Canadian chartered banks.


So the sad, but changing reality on ABL loan facilities - simply that thousands of Canadian business owners and financial managers have not even heard of ABL credit, much less understand how it works. Getting them over the top in understanding this valuable aspect of business financing is often the role of a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success .



At that point the financing becomes ' believable' and the business owner/manager will soon be leading the charge against the competition in their industry, knowing full well they have the financing in place to win those battles in 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 ABL 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