An ABL Business Credit Line : Ready For An Asset Based Loan For Credit ?

Have You Considered Asset Based Lending As The New Vintage of Business Credit Lines ?

OVERVIEW – Information on asset based lending as a viable bank alternative for business credit .The asset based loan known as the ‘ ABL Business credit line ‘ is a solid revolving credit facility for many companies in all sorts of industries







The ABL business credit line could well be called the ' new vintage' in business financing. In simplest terms its borrowing, via one facility, against all your business assets. What are those assets? Typically receivables, contracts, inventories, and equipment. Why should you consider this type of non bank borrowing? It is the ultimate asset based loan .Let's dig in.

Bank financing in Canada, low cost and flexible as it is, is simply not available to all businesses in the SME Commercial sector in Canada.

It is an irony in business that growth opportunities and the ability to generate more sales and profits simply becomes ' too much of a good thing'

as it relates to the company's ability to handle that growth. While that might refer to people, systems, processes, new assets required we're focusing today on cash flow and working capital availability.

Europeans have a great name for this - they call it overtrading. Without a decent facility in place payable grow, CRA obligations mount, and the company struggles to meet client needs.

ABL (asset based lending) provides one solid solution to that challenge. In effect you are opening the tap

by cash flowing your business assets. Part of the cash flow shortage problem is simply that fact that a ' domino theory' exists in commercial ' business to business' transactions. Each firm stretches out payables- the irony included here is that even the largest corporations and government bodies are sometimes the slowest payers!

So why is the ABL business credit line getting more popular every day? Simply because it provides the alternative to traditional Canadian chartered bank financing that might not be available. The right facility, properly structured, with the right finance firm, can provide unlimited capital, allowing the owner/manager to capitalize on growth opportunities.

Part of the appeal of the ABL business credit line is way it is structured. As your assets and sales revenues grow you have the ability to draw down on a daily basis. We should probably note that the borrowing calculations you receive on your maximum borrowing power in fact is calculated monthly by a standard document known as a ' borrowing base certificate'. It totals your A/R, inventory and equipment and allows you to borrow against that balance via some very healthy margining ratios. Typically that's 90% of A/R, 30-70% of inventory, as well as the liquidation value of equipment.

A short technical point - Inventory is assessed when you start up your facility and an on going borrowing per cent age is applied to future inventory calculations. As far as equipment goes assets are appraised at the start of the facility and become a key part of your borrowing base.

Costs vary in the asset based loan. Larger credit worthy concerns can achieve facilities that are even lower priced than banks! But the majority of the SME COMMERCIAL sector that uses ABL credit pays higher rates than banks, the trade off being access to unlimited credit that goes lock step with sales growth.

There's nothing like the taste of a good new ' vintage ', so it might be time to consider speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can introduce you to a new idea in business credit.




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 ASSET BASED CREDIT LINE 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

Business Credit Lines : An Everyday Guide to Thinking Big On A Commercial Line Of Credit

How To Achieve business credit lines that actually work like the other 49% of Companies


OVERVIEW – Information on business credit lines in Canada. What access to a commercial line of credit means to your company







Business credit lines in Canada are often a solution to one of the biggest challenges business owners and financial mangers face - namely ' cash flow shortfalls'.

Canada's leading bank recently advised that over 51% of business has those cash flow challenges. So your company wants to be in that other 49% and a commercial line of credit can be the answer, so let’s dig in.

There's no greater lesson in working capital financing than managing your way through finance shortfalls. As simple as the solution is the business owner/manager will surely agree with one of our mentors who once said ' tuition is very high in the school of experience'.

While the Canadian banks tout support of the SME COMMERCIAL finance sector the reality is that bank credit lines are tough to get, and not everyone understands there are alternatives.

We always; point out that the need for any external financing can be eliminated though by some sound internal mgmt (PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF?!)

- that includes improving a/r and inventory turns, watching who you extend credit to, and matching finance options to finance needs . For example utilize equipment financing to finance long term fixed asset needs.

Often the issue of ' seasonality' or what we could call temporary bulges in financing needs is the root of the problem. Enter the business credit line, allowing you to draw on business assets via a revolving facility.

Companies in early stage have a major challenge in accessing credit lines, the main reason being they don't have the proven profits, debt structure, and cash flow ratios required. They then insist on outside personal assets which owners may be unwilling or unable to provide.

ALTERNATIVES? They include proven financing solutions such as -

Factoring / Confidential Receivable Finance

Secured inventory financing

Monetizing SR ED tax credits via a cash flow loan

Working Capital Term Loans

Sale leaseback strategies

Non bank ABL asset based lines of credit

P O / Contract Financing

Royalty Financing


Critical to achieving business line of credit success is your ability to present your case properly. This may be done by the owner, financial manager, or an experienced business financing advisor.

If you are unable to present your year end financials, an interim balance sheet and income statement, as well as a cash flow forecast you are already behind the 8 ball. If you want to really impress the bank or commercial finance company be armed with aged payable, receivables, and possibly a list of fixed assets.

We've provided everyday solutions to business credit needs. If your business is one of the 51% that needs some form of traditional or alternative cash flow financing via business credit seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you to ' think big' on fixing the financing conundrum.



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

Leasing Loans : Avoiding Deadly Sins In Lease Finance Needs With This Valuable Information

Pulling back the curtain on Equipment Financing Issues You Can Not Overlook

OVERVIEW – Information on leasing loans in Canada, including issues such as sale leaseback, appraisals, etc. Lease finance has pitfalls that need to be avoided when considering asset financing strategies




Leasing loans often come with issues that can't be overlooked by the business owner/financial manager. Let's pull back the curtain and expose some issues that must be dealt with properly to maximize the benefits of lease finance in Canada. Let's dig in.

It seems simple, right? We're referring to the basic concept of financing your assets via equipment leases. But simple calculator keystrokes (by you or the leasing company) can dramatically affect how much you pay as well as determining your rights and obligations under the lease contract.

We would point out also that many clients we talk to interchange the words ' lease ' and ' loan' although they are somewhat different. In the clients eyes they are simply ' borrowing funds '!

Leasing companies in Canada ' structure' transactions. That's there term for helping you match the benefits of the useful life of the asset to your cash outflow - aka the monthly payment.

Instead of waiting for a lease offer to be presented it is important for the business owner/financial manager to proactively think about some key issues in advance. Factors that should be considered are pricing vis a vis your company's credit quality, what type of lease you want or need ( there are two types ) , what you want to happen at the end of the lease, , and how long you wish to spread out the payments for - known as the lease term or amortization.

TIP -

Ask you lessor if payments under your lease were calculated in 'advance' or ' arrears ‘. This can change the profit made by the lessor and of course that implies the overall rate you are paying.

The huge amount of competitiveness in Canadian lease financing puts the borrower, that's you, into the driving seat when it comes to getting an overall structure that makes sense for your firm.

Did you know that your payments under a lease don't necessarily have to start when the equipment is delivered? In some cases special needs or complexity around the purchase of an asset can have your vendors paid, equipment delivered, and payments deferred. The industry calls this an ' interim rent' issue, and allows your suppliers to be paid promptly while your asset gets installed, etc.

A common example would be a larger project your business is undertaking, requiring multiple suppliers to deliver products, get paid, etc. While the lease company earns a bit more finance interest profit on this type of transaction the ability for you to defer payments under a project is usually valuable.

TIP -

Used equipment can easily be financing also. Issues that need to be thought out in advance and presented to your lessor are the age of the asset, long term ' shelf life ', determining the actual market or liquidation value of the asset, replacement cost, , as well as the ability of a used asset to generate sales and profits for your firm .

Don't forget to think about these, as well as possible other issues relating to the overall benefits of lease financing in Canada. 80% of business leases assets as a cost effect way to run and grow your business.

Avoid any ' deadly sins’

in asset acquisition by seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in your lease 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 :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/leasing-loans-lease-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

Independent Film Financiers In Canada : Financing Tax Credit Incentives

Looking for the inside story on independent film financing via specialty media and loan incentives ?

OVERVIEW – Information on how independent film financiers finance tax credit incentives in Canada for Canadian content as well as co – production ventures






Tax credit Incentives in Canada play a key role in the financing of ' media ' projects in film, TV, and digital animation. Given the somewhat limited access for independent producers to specialized Canadian chartered bank financing how and where do independent film financiers play a role in getting our project fully financed? Let's dig in.

Specialized loan funding and media financing comes a lot easier if the producer/owner has a bit of an inside track via the following information. Not only did the 2008-2009 world wide recession take manufacturing, technology and service industries down, it also slowed down the ability of the entertainment industry to access the capital it needed. Almost no hedge fund firms, angel investors, or VC's in Canada offer film tax credit or equity/debt finance solutions. This forces project owners to work even hard to access capital.

There are different players the owners/producers must deal with to get a project fully financed. They include equity investors, the project owners themselves, government funding, and niche financiers specializing in pre-sale, distribution, and gap financing.

Projects that can access film, TV and animation finance solutions require a strong focus, experience, and the ability to forge relationships with independent film financiers to pull a full financing package together.

Producers that are not well known, just starting out, or focusing on smaller projects generate very little interest from the bank film financing sector. In fact to our knowledge some of the Canadian banks do not participate at all when it comes to proven strategies such as tax credit financing.

In Canada provinces such as Ontario, B.C., and Quebec garner most of the tax credit ' action '. Using digital interactive media projects as an example Canada has become a hot bed of workers with talent and skills and technological savvy when it comes to working on media related projects in film, television and interactive media.

While tax credits often can finance up to 30-50% of a project independent film financiers can provide bridge loans, distribution financing, and print and advertising (‘P&A") finance.

Critical to accessing support from an independent film financier is the ability to pull a team together. That team can be internal or external and the expertise there will save you two things - time... and money! Typically that team will include a tax credit accountant and a lawyer or law firm.

Refundable tax credits account for a large portion of the billions of dollars of revenue and employment that comes from media and film. The credits are a combo of federal and provincial, provincial of course depending on where you project is produced, filmed, etc.

The tax credit accountant

will maximize your claim, as well ensuring its approval and viability for financing. (Often an' opinion letter ' is provided by the film tax accountant verifying the calculations in your claim)

Depending on what province you've chosen to domicile your tax credit in different percentages are applied to your refund for your total 'spend'. The tax credit is, simply speaking, a ' point system' whereby you get, or lose points based on Canadian content, foreign involvement, whether the producer is Canadian, where you film, etc.

Two quick clarifications: Partial foreign ownership of your projects is called a ' co production' and must be validated up front. Where you film or produce gives you what’s known as a ' Regional Credit '.

Independent film financiers also like ' slates '. That's a group of projects that lowers the volatility risk of entertainment. Each project typically in Canada is a separate legal entity.

Tax credits that are cash flowed work best when you've got good advice and good people working your deal. If you are looking for independent film financiers in Canada to finance tax credits and other parts of a project seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of 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 FILM TAX CREDIT AND 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


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '

Stan Prokop

Business Equipment Lease Financing In Canada - You Need To Know These Asset Leasing Finance Issues

4 Things You ( Probably ) Didn’t Know About Equipment Financing

OVERVIEW – Information on aspects of business finance equipment leasing not always considered by owners/managers who are acquired fixed assets. Here’s what you need to know about some key leasing finance issues








As business equipment lease financing is used by over 80% of Canadian business borrowers one would think the business owner/financial manager utilizing leasing finance would pretty well know all there is to know about the popular financing vehicle. One would think... but that's unfortunately not the case. Let's examine some key aspects on that point. Let's dig in.


A good start is to re enforce the fact that more than ever the advantages of leasing still remain pretty well constant. They include 100% financing ( in some cases a down payment might be required ) , as well as the cash flow savings inherent in the transaction - allowing your company to match cash flow to useful life of the asset. Knowing those fixed payments won't change during the life of the lease allow the owner / manager to better handle cash outflows?

1. Accounting is critical to your lease transaction - the reason that is important is the flexibility that comes with this method of financing. Because you have two separate choices when you enter into a lease the way you account for the lease has implications for how that affects your balance sheet and income statement. The best way we explain this to clients is that you have to decide whether the lease you are entering into is a:

Lease to own

Lease to use

Respectively, the technical term for each of these choices is CAPITAL LEASE... or OPERATING LEASE.

The best way to think of that decision point is often referred to as ' risk and rewards of ownership ‘.

So bottom line, if you choose a capital lease as an example you have chosen to own and dispose of the asset and account for it in that manner.

2. What's the deal on which of those two choices you choose? Typically lessees (that’s you) choose operating leases when they are focusing on using the asset but wanting to upgrade or return it at the end of the lease term. The capital lease denotes ownership, on the other hand.

When you enter into a capital lease you should be focusing on how long you are going to use the asset, and how you will dispose of it at the end. That can be via selling it yourself, or using it as a ' trade in' of sorts on a similar use asset.

KEY POINT - During and operating lease you can modify payments via upgrades, lease extensions, etc. Capital leases have a ' hell or high water' clause that specifies you're responsible for all the fixed payments for the term of the lease. There is almost never ' no mercy '

on ' buying out' the lease.











3. Residual Value - in both our lease examples it’s important for the owner /manager to focus on the value of the asset at the end of the lease term. For the capital lease that will involve how you handle the ' book value' on your accounting records, as well as knowing what you might be able to get for the asset if you sell it.

The operating lease places even MORE focus on the residual or final value of the asset at end of term. That’s because with that lease you have the right to return, upgrade via a trade in, or simply extend payments for a mutually specified period of time.

4. SUBLEASING? In certain cases your firm as the owner of the asset can ' sublease 'the asset to a third party. In effect your company becomes the lessor! While you are still responsible for the payments you are collecting all or a portion of those payments from a third party. In larger firms this might be to a subsidiary on an inter company transaction.


If you want to ensure you're benefiting from all the positive aspects of acquiring assets through 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 you equipment 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 BUSINESS EQUIPMENT 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

Cash Flow Financing : Different Working Capital Finance Solutions For Different Problems

The Mission – Should You Accept It ? Fixing Working Capital & Business Finance Challenges In Canada



OVERVIEW – Information on working capital finance solutions in Canada. Here’s how the Canadian business owner / financial manager can address cash flow financing challenges via various options




Cash flow financing means different things to different business owners. But when your overall business finance strategy isn’t working your mission, (should you choose to accept it) becomes accessing working capital finance strategies that make sense specifically for your firm. Let's dig in.

In the world of business survival small problems can become large quite quickly, and no example is better than the one of running out of cash. Top experts tell us those owners, investors, lenders, suppliers focus on ' cash flow ' to gauge whether a company is winning or losing.

That's the big picture, but on a day to day basis working capital financing is relevant because it allows you to meet demands of clients, as well as having the opportunity to take on larger deals, contracts, etc.

If a business is growing the problem of proper financing is very visible quickly. That's because the internal workings of the company are not allowing sales to translate into cash as quickly as is needed.

Key to understanding your ' cash flow fix' is the ability to separate long term needs from short term requirements. Also, the business owner/manager has two options for the fix - borrow and take on debt, or monetize assets.

Actually there are three options we suppose - the other is to inject new owner equity into the company. Unless you're a company that is considering ' going public ‘, or desiring to have new private capital come in that 3rd strategy is highly ... undersireable! It dilutes ownership per cent age.

Accountants tell us that the working capital part of the balance sheet is represented by ' current assets ' in your financials. Typically they are receivables and inventory. Managing and financing these two assets are your closest chance to achieving cash flow nirvana!

Financing of current assets can be done both traditionally through Canadian chartered bank lines of credit, or alternatively through non bank independent commercial finance solutions.

What are those solutions?

They include:

Factoring / Confidential Receivable Finance
Inventory financing
Business line of credit via a non bank asset based line of credit
Monetizing tax credits (SR&ED loans)
Sale leaseback of fixed assets
Purchase Order/ Contract Financing

Those are all ' asset monetization' strategies - they don't bring new debt to your balance sheet, and bring you one step closer to ' cash in the bank '.

Owner/Managers also have the ability to consider a working capital term loan. If your business has the cash flow to support such a transaction it's a fixed term loan with monthly payments that inject ' permanent' working capital into the business.

The good thing about having a flexible cash flow financing solution in place is that it allows you to eliminate the ' emergencies' that arise out of sales opportunities or bulges in working capital needs.

The best way to assess your needs is to spend some time always looking at sales growth, seasonality in revenues, needs for new assets, and how much A/R and inventory you will carry or need based on that sales analysis.

If there is any ' good news' in the cash flow conundrum it’s simply that there are analytics and solutions available to business owners/managers.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who will join you on ' the mission’.




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 CASH FLOW 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