WELCOME !

Thanks for dropping in for some hopefully great business info and on occasion some hopefully not too sarcastic comments on the state of Business Financing in Canada and what we are doing about it !

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.



Monday, July 7, 2014

7 Park Avenue Financial IS Canadian Business Financing






To date 91,658 views of our daily business financing blog - Next stop 100,000 ! We thank those readers





CLICK ON BELOW ONCE OR TWICE TO ENLARGE









YOUR COMPANY IS LOOKING FOR BUSINESS FINANCE !


You've arrived at the right address ! Welcome to 7 Park Avenue Financial

Financing & Cash flow are the biggest issues facing business today

ARE YOU UNAWARE OR DISSATISFIED WITH YOUR CURRENT BUSINESS FINANCING OPTIONS?

CALL NOW - DIRECT LINE - 416 319 5769 - Let's talk or arrange a meeting to discuss your needs

EMAIL - INFO@7parkavenuefinancial.com

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

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


OUR ONLY COMPETITIVE EDGE IS ... EXPERIENCE!








A Canada Small Business Financing Loan ? Warning : Government Loans Work



















There’s No Cover Up On Government Business Loans In Canada



OVERVIEW – Information on the Canada small business financing loan program. Government loans provide capital for start up, acquisition and expansion needs . Here is how









The Canada small business financing loan must sometimes feel like some sort of ' cover up ' when it comes to business owners /managers understanding what this financing is , how it works , and understanding how to maximize the benefits of the program. Does it have to be that way? We don't think so, so let's dig in.

Let's take a look also at some of the reasons Canadian business considers the ' SBL ' government loan. For the majority of businesses in Canada it's pretty well a focus on growing and expanding the company. That often is a challenge when over all economic growth is sometimes slow.

Financing via government business loans can be used when the desire is to add new products and or services to your current mix. These often could require new equipment or leasehold improvements.

In other cases new asses might be able to propel your business into much larger growth than it is currently attaining - that might be via new sales geographies or new vertical product or service niches.

If your business is retail oriented bank financing can often be difficult to obtain - part of the reason there is simply that banks view your company as an ' all cash ' business... so the question they ask is ' why would a cash business need credit ?".

Small business loans (they are not that small - a typical loan amt is $350,000.00 can also be used to acquire new technologies such as computers, application software, etc.

Finally, did you know that the Canada small business financing loan can be used to start a business, acquire a business, or merge with another business. Many business owners/managers view acquiring a business as a faster way to grow and expand.
CAVEAT EMPTOR? Do your due diligence on any purchase, including financial condition, growth potential, valuation, etc!

The SBL loan is sponsored by INDUSTRY CANADA, part of the Canadian federal government. It's their way of ' sponsoring ' loans (they guarantee a large part of the loan to the bank) in order to accelerate growth in the SME sector.

Rates , fees and structures under the program are excellent - Rates are at 3% over prime, which currently is some of the lowest business financing and borrowing rates in Canadian history . Structures are typically anywhere from 2-7 years, and there is even no penalty to repay the loan which is often NOT the case in other forms of business financing in Canada.

Fees associated with the program are in our opinion quite nominal, especially when the business owner considers finally being able to access the capital they need.

Industry Canada, aka ' the government ' does not directly provide the loans, they have chartered our banks to do that, so it’s critical to locate a banker that is familiar with and understands the program.

If you're looking to have government loans ' work ' for your business or opportunity 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 financing needs. And trust us, there's no cover up - government loans, properly done, work.





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 SMALL 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











' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '





























Friday, July 4, 2014

Franchise Business Financing : Managing Headwinds In Your Franchising Finance Challenges As A Franchisee




The Best Of Times.. Or Worst Time To Finance A Franchise ?


OVERVIEW – Information on franchising finance in Canada . Franchise business financing requires a solid understanding of some key principles and facts




Franchise business financing
in Canada requires solid basic knowledge around those ' headwinds '
that buffet the franchisee about when he or she is seeking a franchise solution. Without some expert help the franchisee potentially can fail in his efforts to successfully finance a business. Let's dig in.

The Canadian franchise sector as a whole couldn’t be more ' busy ' - in fact many maintain its ' hot '. A fairly solid economy, as well as the desire to become an entrepreneur of sorts makes franchising attractive. Corporate downsizing also tends to offer opportunities to experienced individuals who might otherwise view starting a business as too ' risky'.

Part of the problem we have seen in many cases revolves around the fact that some franchisors do not properly investigate or asses franchisee financial and business qualifications in their sometimes haste to ' sell ' a franchise. Remember always that franchisors ' sell' franchises, they don't ' finance' them - that’s simply not their business or best use of capital.

Does the quality or reputation make a difference in the ability to finance your franchise? While there is probably no ' bad ' list of franchisors available it's safe to say that many franchises have a reputation of being a bit more ' tried and true ' when it comes to business success. In Canada the franchisee has the option of dealing with a Canadian franchisor, or a chain that has U.S. or foreign ownership. In some cases you might be dealing with a ' MASTER FRANCHISE ' - someone or an entity that has purchased the rights to a geographical territory, such as... you guessed it... Canada.

We've observed that for whatever reason some franchise sectors tend to attract franchisees more than others - they include restaurants/hospitality , training, hair, fitness etc. It's incumbent on you the franchisee to demonstrate to your lender that you have both the right combination of passion and experience to start, run and grow a franchise.

So let's bore down into the actual financing of your franchise. That financing is achieved by either a specialty franchise lender ( they are extremely limited in Canada ) , a bank ( highly improbable ) , a bank via the SBL loan ( highly probable by the way !) , and a combination of assorted financing services such as leasing, merchant advances, working capital term loans, etc.

So, getting back to... the bank! While all our Canadian banks have franchise ' units' they are heavily focused on arrangements with only the most popular , large and successful chains .

Traditional financing for a start up is simply not available without the franchisee putting up as collateral significant personal collateral, aka the home, savings, etc. Typically that's not desirable for the franchisee! Simply speaking, you might find that the guy in the bank commercial on TV is not the lender you deal with in the branch!

We referred to the Canadian SBL loan above; it’s a solid way to finance your franchise if you meet some basic criteria. That includes a reasonable down payment, a decent business plan, good personal credit history, the loan only finances equipment and leaseholds, but more often than not that’s the bulk of the financing needed. Personal guarantees under the program are also limited, which is attractive.

Typically you want to have a ' team ' in place to ensure legal and financing issues are in place to help cement success. That might include your lawyer, an accountant, and... when it comes to financing a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
. You'll be in better shape to navigate those business and financing headwinds.



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-financing-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 '





































Thursday, July 3, 2014

Equipment Loans And Leases : How Much Do You Know About Leasing Companies
















Why Canadian Business Got Hooked On Leasing Business Equipment




OVERVIEW – Information on why leasing companies are almost always a solid bet when it comes to asset financing/refinancing . Recognizing the benefits of equipment loans and leases makes your business a winner





Equipment loans and leases in Canada, as offered by leasing companies and other commercial finance firms are at an all time high in popularity.

When the business owner/ financial manger understands why this is the case he or she can take advantage of benefits and advantages that are reserved for all. Its one time when following the crowd is a must! Let's dig in.


The acquisition of assets in business always comes down to several key decision points - the use and benefits of the asset and the cost and cash flow outflow ramifications. More and more the owner / manager is focusing on using an asset, not necessarily owning it. With all respect to those ' pride of ownership ' folks preserving cash flow is almost always king.

Equipment financing sometimes by necessity can get a little complex - more often than not it’s a simple process, but it’s critical to understand that some of the factors you must also consider in financing equipment include:

Tax ramifications

Accounting Treatment

Effects on your balance sheet / Debt load

Impact on credit line facilities


It's interesting to note that almost all the Canadian chartered banks today offer specialized leasing services via separate entities within the bank. Typically these transactions are reserved for bank clients, and those that have solid credit. Deal size is typically larger here also.

The balance of industry is covered off by independent Canadian commercial finance companies. These firms typically have set credit profiles they are looking for, as well as deal size and asset mix.

In Canada almost any asset can be financed. That includes technological needs also - such as computers, software, telecom equipment, etc

While the majority of the industry is focused on what is known as the ' Capital lease ‘, aka ' lease to own ' its important to know that another choice exists - that’s the ' Operating lease ' or ' lease to use ' so to speak.

Factors that business owners must take into account when considering leasing or the type of lease they will choose include -

Estimated life of the asset

The desire to own or return the asset

Leasing structure relative to rate, term,

Cash flow impact


Computer leases are probably the best way to describe the benefits of operating leases. That’s because the technology changes so quickly. Owners wish to often upgrade, replace or refresh, and assets can be efficiently returned with no obligation to buy.

Assets you own can also be leased by the way! That’s essentially called a sale leaseback, and allows you to keep assets in the business and take advantage of the equity in those assets. The process is relatively simple and includes ensuring the asset is lien free, has value (typically via an appraisal) and ensuring a proper lease or loan structure is in place. The lease can be in this case substituted for a ' bridge loan' of sorts.

Have we forgotten anything? Oh yes. If you business offers a product that can be leased you can benefit from offering a customer financing program. By partnering with the right firm you can offer all the benefits of equipment loans and leases to your clients. Key benefits include:

Immediate cash flow for the vendor

Removal of budget and price constraints in your products

Creating a strategic advantage via your client’s perception you offer a one stop solution



So, if 80% of Canadian business is ' HOOKED ' on solutions offered by leasing companies the choice seems pretty clear. 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 financing 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 EQUIPMENT FINANCING AN LEASING 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 '
































Monday, June 30, 2014

Filed Research And Development Credit On Hiatus ? Accelerate SR ED claims Via A SRED Financing





Looking To Side Step Waiting For Your SR&ED Claims ? Finance Them ! Here’s How


OVERVIEW – Information on SRED financing in Canada . Monetizing your SR&ED Research and Development Credit makes cash flow sense











SRED Financing in Canada
is all about cash flowing/monetizing your SR&ED tax credit. It's not unusual for business owners and financial managers that access this program to get the feeling their claim is on somewhat of a ' hiatus ' after they have filed their claim. Can things be ' speeded up ' a bit? They can! Let's dig in.

While there might be some legitimate reasons for the actual time period from filing your claim to receiving your refund cheque from the government that’s little consolation to your business - a significant amount of time has lapsed since you've spent those funds, and you're looking for ' cash back' !

What are some of the reasons a claim is delayed or slowed down based on time to final approval and refund? They might include things such as the financial or technical audits done on your business and the claim. It might also simply be a ' backlog ' has occurred in volume of claims processing inside Canada Revenue Agency.

It should be no secret by now that there have been some major changes in the program. This includes a lot of scrutiny on those folks that prepare claims (aka ' SR&ED Consultants ‘) who created a feeding frenzy of sorts around the way they bill their fees on the processing of your claim. These fees typically were ' contingency fees ' meaning that the consultant bore the risk around the time and ultimate success of the claim, and for that charged a per cent age of final amount received.

SRED Financing allows for your research and development credit claim to be cash flowed, allowing you to purpose the funds for any general company purpose. This is even more critical to firms that are in development or pre revenue stages.

A handful of common sense strategies and enhance both the final approval of your claim, as well as it's financing. They include:

1. Ensuring you are taking advantage of your positive SR&ED history - while claims for first time filers can be financed it goes without saying a track record in previous years sure helps the cause and speed of your approval

2. Ensuring your claim addresses some of the key ' true requirements ' of a claim such as your firm’s efforts to address uncertainty, advancement in processes, etc

3. A copy of your SR ED claim is always a key part of the financing of the claim - remember that the claim itself is the key ' collateral ' for a SRED loan


The other parts or a SR&ED loan application are as basic as they can be - your financials , a list of any secured creditors , info on who prepared your claim, etc .

SR&ED loans are structured in a unique manner. They typically are set up as a loan with no payments made during the term. Funds are advanced at 70% loan to value - for instance a filed 200k claim would be eligible for a collateral loan of $140,000.00. Naturally when the claim is approved by CRA and funded you receive the balance of 30%, less financing costs.

Banks in Canada don't really finance a SR&ED loan. So if you want to ' side step ' the waiting line for cash flowing your R&D claim seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you in monetizing your research and development 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 SR&ED 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 '



































Thursday, June 26, 2014

Tech Financing Needs : What You Ought To Know About Technology Corporate Finance















Get Rid Of Technology Financing Challenges Once And For All

OVERVIEW – Information on technology corporate finance solutions in Canada. Consider these tech financing strategies to maximize ROI













Tech financing needs in Canada can be a combination of challenge (and a headache!) Canadian businesses in the SME and large corporate sector. Technology corporate finance solutions, no matter how small or large your company is, come in a variety of flavors and sizes. Let's dig in.

The start up or early phase company has difficulty in attracting any type of financing. So planning for tech solutions and upgrades is crucial and challenging. The reality, as harsh as it is in Canada is that owner equity provides the majority of early stage financing for operations and technology. The irony here is that many times the technology is what will drive higher and faster growth and profits.

Service based businesses, and those relying on ' IP ' (intellectual properly)
create even more of a problem for themselves, as much of the financing for the SME Commercial sector in Canada is ' asset based '. So from the owner/financial manager perspective they feel they are compelled to take financing at rates, structures and terms that are less than favorable.

It's no secret to Canadian business owners and entrepreneurs that it's difficult to pitch technology financing needs to our Canadian chartered banks. The reasons are pretty simple: Tech needs seem to quickly become obsolete, and even with prices of the majority of tech assets going down in price they still are a huge part of any firms ' CAPEX' budget.

So who are the ' sources of financing ' - those firms that can fill the tech financing gap you're faced with? As well, is there a better way to address rapid growth in technology changes and those ' life cycles'?

One way to secure financing for hardware, software, telecom equipment, etc is to take a look at the Government CSBF loan. Recent changes have appeared to make the program even more popular. Billions are borrowed every year under this program.

So is there a clear cut way to finance the acquisition of technologies? The obvious choice? LEASING! The reasons are pretty simple - along with typical tax and accounting advantages the owner/manager has the ability to match cash outflows with the ' estimated ' useful life of the asset.

And because many firms want to ' use ', not ' own' tech assets they also have the choice of opting for operating leases. These allow for maximum flexibility when it comes to upgrades, buying out, or simply extending.

Currently the industry as a whole prides itself of fast approvals, often within a day or so. And again, those assets that can be financed:

APPLICATION SOFTWARE
COMPUTERS
SERVERS
LAPTOPS/NOTEBOOKS/TABLETS
TELECOM EQUIPMENT
PHONE SYSTEMS


If you're looking to get the proverbial ' monkey off your back ' when it comes to financing tech needs 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 ensuring you're ' up to speed' in tech corporate finance requirements.



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 TECHNOLOGY 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 '







































Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Business Cash Flow Loans : Reversing the Working Capital Slowdown













Your Business Cash Flow Financing Nightmare Is Probably Not Just In Your Head



OVERVIEW – Information on business cash flow loans and asset monetization strategies for Canadian businesses. Working capital needs can be fulfilled in a variety of manners – here’s why and how
















Working capital
shortages can almost always be reversed with the right asset monetization or business cash flow loans. It's no secret that challenge can easily become a nightmare
when not identified and properly addressed in a timely manner. Let's dig in.

Critical to implementing the right solution is the understanding of some key basics - they include:

Understanding your ' cash flow cycle’

Halting and managing cash outflows

Being able to accelerate cash receipts via proper credit and collection policies

Your company can improve overall business health with proper cash flow management and external and internal financing. We've mentioned above that ' cash flow cycle '. It's simply the ability to understand how a dollar flows through your company and how long it spends in inventory, A/R, etc.

But what solutions are in fact available to halt the oncoming of a cash flow crisis.
They typically include:

Bank lines of credit

Asset based non bank lines of credit (Known as ' ABL ' they are the alternative to Canadian chartered bank facilities

A/R financing (this comes in a variety of shapes and sizes)

Inventory finance

Working capital term loans (permanent injections of working capital)

Purchase order/Contract financing

Tax Credit Financing (SR&ED Tax credits)

These are the external financing solutions available to any firm that wants or needs to address avoiding a cash flow crisis. Internally though owners and financial managers can better monitor and accelerate cash via constantly assessing days sales outstanding, inventory turns, and payables days outstanding. Oh and don't forget expense mgmt!

A simple cash flow forecast can easily anticipate upcoming working capital and cash shortages. A simple trick - Constantly monitor the relationship between A/R and sales on a monthly basis, in the form of a ' ratio'. If that ratio is greater than one? Danger ahead! Simply speaking cash flow problems are upcoming as you are running out of cash.

Your company is either eligible for bank financing or it is not. Bank finance solutions in Canada are low cost, and flexible. In some cases your company might be eligible, but not in the amounts needed.

Short term shortages must be addressed by short term financing strategies, typically lines of credit, A/R financing, and inventory finance. Many businesses of a small to medium size are considering A/R finance these days. This tool turns everyday sales into everyday cash. Our recommendation is to consider CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVABLE FINANCING. While more expensive than bank lines it provides unlimited financing and allows you to bill and collect your A/R in a matter similar to bank credit facilities.

If you want to avoid the cash flow nightmare via proper business cash flow loans and asset monetization strategies seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your 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 = CANADIAN CAS FLOW BUSINESS LOANS 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 '