Working Capital Financing In Canada : Business Loans & Cash Flow Finance Solutions

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No, Wait , You Just Might Not Understand All Your Canadian Business Financing Alternatives !

Information on working capital financing in Canada. Factoring and other types of alternative business loans can provide valuable cash flow finance solutions for the funding challenges of Canadian businesses

Working Capital Financing - Canada continues to be challenged by liquidity and financing for business.  For Canadian business owners to be successful they need to have new financing alternatives today. I recently spoke to a business owner who was quite clear on his thoughts on the new financing alternative for business - factoring, also known as receivable discounting. Let’s examine his problems with this unique financing alternative and see how valid his points might be.


According to my customer – ‘Ten Reasons Not to Factor:’
 and our answers to those issues! -->


COST - Many business owners perceive factoring to be very expensive - yes it is more expensive than traditional financing , but it provides you with all the liquidity you need when you cant get receivables financed or margined by a Canadian chartered bank - a proper effective analysis by an experienced business advisor can show you that you can recoup almost all of the costs of factoring in a number of ways - also, many business owners and financial managers don’t understand the true cost of carrying their receivables for  60-90 days and what the financial benefits are of turning receivables over quickly


DON'T UNDERSTAND THE MARKETPLACE-


There are many types of factoring - notification, non notification, recourse, non recourse, spot, etc - Yes , if you don’t understand the marketplace talk to a financing expert - he or she can explain what factoring solution works for your firm


TIME TO APPROVE THE FACILITY - In reality factoring and receivable facilities can be set up in days, not the weeks and months it might take to negotiate a significant bank line


HAVE FINANCING NOW - Factoring can be complimentary to your existing financing when all parties work together, which creates a win win environment


WEAK BALANCE SHEET- If you have a weak balance sheet that does absolutely not preclude you from a factoring or invoice discounting facility
LOSING MONEY - Factoring and receivable financing focuses on assets, not financial losses - Hopefully the financing facility will in fact put your firm back on the road to profits and working capital


I  HATE NOTIFICATION - Our firm specializes in a unique form of non notification factoring financing - you bill and collect your own receivables - Check out CONFIDENTIAL RECEIVABLE FINANCING

I AM WORRIED ABOUT BAD DEBT - Depending on the factoring expert you are working with facilities can be structured to insure your receivables


OTHER FIRMS THINK I AM IN TROUBLE IF I FACTOR - that is an old way of thinking when factoring originated in Canada - the reality is that some of the largest and most successful corporations in Canada factor tens of millions of dollars of receivables


DON'T KNOW WHO TO TALK TO -  Factoring is a newer form of alternative financing, talk to people you trust or engage the services of an experience factoring advisor who will take the time to explain your options and set up the facility
Hopefully my customer now understands that factoring as a working capital option is something that every business should consider as a financing alternative .


Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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 '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop

SR&ED Financing Helps Eliminate Your Innovation Rut ! SR ED Refundable Tax Credit Loans In Canada

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The Harsh Truth About R&D Capital Investment In Canada ! A large part of your investment is refundable!

Information on SR&ED Loans In Canada. Financing  SR ED credits monetizes and cash flows your R&D capital investment. Here's why and how to finance  refundable tax credits

Sr&ed Factoring, or in effect the financing of your Canadian SRED claim is a unique and innovation method of financing your tax credit. For many Canadian business owners and financial managers the amount that their company has invested in research and development of innovative products and services represents a significant amount of their budgets.

Naturally Canadian business appreciates the amount of funds that the Canadian government refunds as non-repayable cash grant for your firms investment into product and technology advancement.

When we meet with customers who wish to finance, (factor) their SR&ED claim it's all about timing. They want to get the immediate benefit of that cash flow and working capital back into their firm. The financing of the claim is the way to do that - it's a case of immediately receiving the cash refund for your claim as opposed to having to wait anywhere from several months to a year to get the refund. And if your firm is filing a SrEd claim for the allowable period of two years prior well that cash flow and working capital has now doubled and provides a significant amount of cash flow if you finance the claim today.

As we have stated the whole scenario of financing a Sr&Ed Tax credit is essentially the process of factoring, or 'discounting the claim '. We would point out that the whole process is applicable to film tax credits also, which a growing and robust industry is given that the government has heightened its grants in many areas of film tax credit financing.

So whats involved in monetizing your SR&ED claim? And perhaps as important, what amount of funds can you get today for the claim. We have stated the claim is discounted or factored - business factor because they need immediate access to cash when current assets such as accounts receivable cannot provide cash flow in a manner that allows your firm to have the working capital it needs. In some cases the factoring of receivables or a SR&ED claim may be one options for cash flow generation, however in a great deal of the cases it in fact is the only option. That is because Canadian banks are reluctant to finance SR&ED claims because of the partial uncertainty in the final approval of the claim, and the reality is that many Canadian small and medium companies currently are challenged in obtaining all the business financing they need.

How much can I get? Is the typical question asked by Canadian business when financing their SR&ED claim? The answer is typically 70% now, and generally financing is structured along the lines of no principal or interest payments on the SRED loan financing until the government approves and funds the claim. At that point your firm gets the additional 30% of the claim, less financing costs associated with the claim which vary based on size of claim, overall financial situation of your firm, etc.

We want to clearly point out that no company should be deterred from financing a claim because they are in a pre- revenue state, or if they have other financial problems or challenges, as the essential security of your SR&ED itself is the prime collateral for the financing.

Talk to an expert in SR&ED financing and determine if you're a solid candidate for immediate cash flow and working capital via this great Canadian government program.

Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –
Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing.
Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/4007082



Here's a recent article published in the National Post on the important of innovation and r&d investments

TORONTO — Finance Minister Bill Morneau is calling on the country’s businesses to put more money into research and development.

In a speech to Toronto’s business community Friday, Morneau touted the benefits of R&D investment.

“The public sector needs to work together with the private sector to create the conditions for success for all,” he said. “But I’ll say here, that we need to do more. Business investment in research and development is absolutely paramount to our success and I’m calling on you, as well as business leaders across the country, to work with us as we take on this challenge.”

The speech follows the unveiling of the federal budget last month, which included billions in new stimulus spending and new funding for R&D. The latter was part of what the Liberals are calling their Innovation Agenda.

New spending on innovation will include $2 billion to expand research at universities, $800 million to develop regional clusters and $95 million annually for research grant councils.

Earlier in the week, Morneau spoke at Waterloo, Ont., a city he highlighted as a model that Canada can build on. Waterloo is known for its strong concentration of technology companies and is often compared in Canada’s media to Silicon Valley.

“We’re working with stakeholders to identify and build on regional strengths in the country,” Morneau said in his speech, part of a breakfast event put on by the Canadian Club of Toronto and the Empire of Canada..

In addition to R&D, Morneau talked about the importance of infrastructure funding. He told the audience that Toronto was eligible for a portion of the $3.4 billion in new spending on transportation. The Liberals have already said that $1.49 billion in spending will go toward Ontario’s transportation needs. SOURCE - NATIONAL POST - APRIL 2016




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 '


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop

How to Pick a Trusted Business Financing Advisor

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Looking for a ' How To' On Business Financing Solutions In Canada ?

Information on business financing in Canada. How can business owners and financial mgrs favorably access loans and other cash flow solutions for their

capital and growth needs. Do you know what the following solutions can do for your firm, what they do, and how much they cost?

A/R Financing
Inventory Finance
Bank credit lines and term loans
Govt guaranteed loans
Inventory Finance
Tax Credit Finance - SR&ED / Film/ Animation
Unsecured Cash flow loans
Equipment Finance
Franchise Loans
Non bank Asset based business lines of credit

Many business owners and financial executives want to ensure they can rely on an independent 'trusted' financing advisor when it comes to their business finances. How does one pick such an advisor? Naturally in today's environment business owners don't have time to waste, and if they have financial or growth challenges they are looking for someone that can bring expertise and solutions to their business.

We are constantly told that business owners are looking for a firm they can trust, respect, and has, of course, credentials.

We believe this whole area of developing a trust between the advisor and the company is a two way street. It is incumbent on the business owner to make sure the goals and needs of the company are made very clear. Business owners or financial managers should not blur the issues to the point that each party does not understand the goals and the respective roles.

When a trusted financing advisor is chosen he or she needs to be given access to the reins and information on the business and its challenges.

Business owners need to ensure that the specialist firm they are dealing with has experience either with the challenges they are facing, or the particular industry the customer is in. Many business financing challenges are industry specific, so this is not the time to be training and advisor on your business! Most people realize though that many financing challenges are somewhat generic in nature, so although an industry expertise is often helpful, it is clearly not always 100% required.

The business owner and financing advisor need to be able to have effective dialogue and communication on what the operational and financing issues are. Many times there are what we call ' warning signs ', yet in other cases companies are already clearly in trouble.

A financing advisor needs to be given information and clarification on issues related to:

- Sales
- Profits
- Currenet lenders
- Working capital issues
- Asset issues
- Future goals of the company

Naturally the above list is hardly all inclusive, but it is a solid start to the dialogue. The business absolutely has to have a handle on what the intermediate term goals are. Management needs to have a strong sense that the business advisor can assist in the recovery, and the advisor must be given the tools that he or she needs.

Both the business owner and advisor should have frank discussions around the probabilities of success and the timelines associated with that success. What's realistic, what isn't.

Business owners and financial executives should clearly check the background and experience of the advisor. References are of course highly recommended. Professional affiliations are of course important, but not critical. References from lawyers, bankers, and accountants are often excellent sources of information. The business advisor should clearly be indicating they have the right attitude and credentials around the business owners financing needs. It is certainly not unrealistic to have solid discussions around timelines and action items responsibility.

Ultimately business is of course people, so chemistry is important, and the business owner should have a sense they could work with the financing advisor. However, at the end of the day you don't have to like people to get the job done ( it certainly helps though!). Credibility and experience are ultimately always at the top of the list.

All engagements should of course be documented properly re success, work fees, etc. A credible business financing advisor will of course be willing to sign any required non-disclosure document.

In summary, a trusted business financing advisor is a valuable ' out of the company ' asset to any firm. Business owners and financial mangers should choose such an advisor carefully, and pay important attention to the qualities and capabilities that advisor can bring to the table, and ultimately, the firms success.


Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


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 '


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop






Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3538272

How to Get Your Canadian Business Equipment Financing Lease Approved

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Here's The Answer To ' What's My Rate "?!

Information on equipment lease rates in Canada. Leasing rates don't have to be an unknown factor in strategies for business loans and asset acquistion. Here's why !

'What is my rate?' is a question I am often asked by customers when they work with us with respect to equipment and lease financing. They are surprised when I tell them that they get to pick their own rate! (All customers want the lowest rate!)

I am not trying to be facetious when we make that statement. What we are saying is that the over all credit quality of a customer, as perceived by the lender ( that's important!) is in fact set by the customer, thereby driving a final approval on rate, term and structure of the proposed financing request.

The role of the customer, or their trusted advisor is to understand the basic credit information requirements and how the overall risk to the customer and their industry will be perceived by the lender. The irony of a lot of business leasing is that the industry for the most part used historical analysis to project future ability to pay. That is a difficult concept for the customer to handle more often than not - as an example the customer may have lost some money last year, driving a negative cash flow figure. Prospects have improved, new orders are coming in, and yet the business has a problem in getting new financing.

The customer needs to ensure that the information and ' story ' make the transaction become more ' approvable'.

Critical categories in the information submission by the company are as follows:

Length of time in business
Personal credit history of the owners
Relationships with other financial institutions
Quality of the financials (Some customers submit balance sheets that don't balance!)
Additional collateral available if necessary
Summary of key financial info such as depreciation, cash flows
Positive focus on management and its background and experience

If the customer is qualified to make such a submission a solid package as per our list noted above should lend itself towards an approval at current market rates and structures. If the customer feels they are not properly qualified to make such a submission they are strongly encouraged to used a qualified intermediary who knows the industry and, more importantly, knows the specific weighting given by a lender to the above noted submission requirements.

The amount of information required around each component is more often than not determine by the size of the transaction or the lenders total exposure to that customer. In many cases small ticket transactions (those under $ 25,000.00) are adjudicated via a credit application and public reporting sources such as Equifax or Dun and Bradstreet. Typically 60-70% of all small ticket transactions are approved.

In summary, customers who want to get a prompt and of course positive lease approval should focus on providing a clean package of required information that will ensure a prompt approval based on specific industry requirements around the transaction size and asset type. Knowing that the lender will focus on future potential of the firm, the management experience, and the collateral asset are valuable data points for any business seeking a business equipment financing lease.



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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 '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop














Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stan_Prokop/432698

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/3428649

How To Be Successful In Financing Inventories In Canada : Which Business Loan Suits Your Inventory Finance Needs

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We're Talkin' Turkey On Inventory Financing Needs !

Information on financing inventories in Canada. Business Loan needs around working capital and cash flow often require some level of inventory finance to supply your business with capital required to grow and profit

Canadian business owners and financial managers are always challenged to properly finance inventory for both regular operations and of course growth.Does Your Business Have An Inventory Finance Hangover ? Here's Some Cures !



There are a number of inventory options in Canada – some of these are complimentary to your firm’s current operations, some are unique and stand along financing arrangements.



As we have noted, business either require inventory financing as a part of their regular operations, or they often require increased inventory financing based on growth and large new orders and contracts .



Customers that our firm works with fall into a few specific categories with respect to their inventory financing needs:



They have existing inventory financing through their banking arrangement

They have bank financing but this does not include an inventory component

They have alternative financing arrangements via an asset based line of credit or a purchase order financing arrangement



It is also important to mention that when we sit down with a customer and discuss inventory financing the term inventory is used as a ‘catch all ‘term – in reality Canadian business inventories fall into several categories - raw materials, work in progress, and finished goods.



Canadian banks in Canada finance current assets of your firm as an ‘operating facility ‘or revolving line of credit. This type of facility margins receivables at usually 75%, and inventory at much less of a % of margining. That places a working capital pressure on the firm as it requires cash to pay for goods, with this cash not turning into a receivable and cash for at least another 60 days.





When bank financing does not include an inventory component that is when the financing challenge truly begins.



We are of the opinion that the best inventory financing arrangement for Canadian firms is a true asset based line of credit that is a non bank facility. We can also call this a true working capital facility, as it provides you with a very strong margining of BOTH your receivables AND inventory! In our experience, and depending on your industry, you will achieve the highest level of margining, and therefore working capital, based on this type of financing arrangement. Although financing costs will be higher than bank rates you will have the capital you need to grow your business and service orders and contracts.



When your business is heavily dependent on an inventory component (unlike a service oriented company that has either no inventory or little inventory) you need financing to be able to turn over stock and remain on strong terms with key suppliers, or overseas suppliers.



How much inventory financing is needed? Many business owners intuitively know how much inventory they need to have on hand, or what amount of financing they need to support that inventory. If they don’t we work with customers to help them understand those calculations and numbers. A great and easy tool for the Canadian business owner or financial manager to use is the simple measure of: INVENTORY TO CURRENT ASSETS



As a business owner you are always concerned about enough inventories on hand to service customers. Receivable are close to cash, but inventory is not exactly self liquidating into cash, so the management of inventory is critical.



To calculate your ratio simply take inventory and divide by your total current assets, and for discussions sake multiply by 100 to get a %. So what is a good number? The answer is there is no right answer as every industry is different. So the best way to employ this great tool is to calculate this ratio historically and on an ongoing basis and determine if you are entering a ‘red flag’ situation.



We encourage Canadian firms to talk to a trusted business financing advisor to determine what options are available, and how they can maximize inventory financing for their future growth and 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 business finance needs.


Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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 '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop

How To Assess Business Loans & Alternative Financing Options In Canada ! Financing Cash Flow 101

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In Pursuit Of Business Financing Alternatives ? We've Found Them!
P.S. Traditional Business Loans Solutions Work Too !

Information on considerations owners/financials need to make in financing cash flow . Traditional business loans and alternative financing options abound in Canada . The catch ? Which ones work for your firm ?

When business owners and financial managers contemplate additional borrowing for their firm they must think it terms of whether the business does, or will have, enough cash flow to make the debt repayments. We can further assure business owners that the bank or lending institution is thinking the same way!

When businesses enter into bank loans or other institutional loans the payments are, 99% of the time fixed and specified. The business owner and financial manager must ensure those payments can be made. If the company has over relied on debt it is viewed as highly leveraged  by the lender.

So how can a business owner determine if the company has the cash flow to support the debt? More importantly how does the lender do that calculation?

The calculation that banks and other term lenders focus on is called 'Times Interest Earned '. The business owner (and the banker) can calculate that formula very simply.

The Times Interest formula is calculated as follows:

Net profit before taxes, plus interest expense / divided by interest expense

The calculation becomes an absolute number. If the number is in fact '1 'that means that the company has in act made just enough to pay the exact interest expense for the year. We would point out that this calculation is always usually done on an annual basis.

So is '1' the magic number? The answer is no, and the answer should be intuitive to the business owner. That is because a times interest of 1 means there is absolutely no cushion for anything going wrong, and all business owners no about Murphy's Law!

So if earning decline or if the company takes on additional debt our ' times interest earned ' number become unsatisfactory - that is to say that we have determined there is not sufficient cash flow to service the debt.

We have determined '1' is not a great number then, well what is? The answer, as in many facets of business, is of course 'that depends '. Many industries differ and there is not really any specific number that is viewed as the Holy Grail by lenders. What we have found though that higher is better than lower. When the number is hovering around 1 both the business owner and the lender, should and will, respectively, have some concern.

We point out also that income, as a key component in our calculation varies between companies in final calculation re tax rate and other accounting adjustments. Some lenders and business owners also add deprecation to the profit because it is not a real cash expense.

Another quick calculation business people can perform is to calculate the cash flow number as a per cent age of debt. This calculation is often done by lenders to ensure long term debt is not being miss-used. If a company has a high percentage of total debt to cash flow it should be a strong indicator to the company owners that growth will be constrained, as all cash is going to debt, not growth. Therefore new equipment, inventory, receivables, etc will suffer in terms of growth.

In summary, business owners, by doing actual current calculations, as well as projections, can easily calculate their 'times interest earned' and cash flow as % of debt. This will allow the business to position loan repayments positively with their lenders, at the same time providing them with insights into how the bank or other lender will view payment capability. Financing solutions available to your firm include, but are not limited to :

A/R Financing
Inventory Finance
Asset based lending
Non bank business lines of credit
SR&ED Tax Credit Loans
Equipment Financing
Unsecured Cash Flow Loans
Royalty Financing
Sale Leasebacks
Commercial Mortgages

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your financing needs.





Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com


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 '


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop

Why Equipment Leasing Dominates Asset Financing In Canada : How To Win With Lease Finance Strategies

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The Secrets Behind Equipment Financing In Canada

Information on equipment leasing in Canada. Asset financing strategies and decisions almost always include lease finance solutions. Here's why !

When Canadian business owners and financial managers realize that the core of their business is often the acquisition of capital assets they need to investigate equipment leasing in Canada. Why do they wish to lease? Very imply put – necessity, convenience, risk shifting, and tax and financial statement advantages. Let's dig in.

Depending on what industry you Canadian company is in you potentially have a large need for capital equipment. Capital expenditures, capital equipment they are simply the business ‘buzz words’ for assets that you need to run your business – it might be a new computer system and software ( yes software can be leased and financed!) , plant machinery, or additional office equipment such as copiers, etc . All of those assets can be financed.

As your company has grown it has potentially grown more debt at the same time! The bankers and financial analysts of course refer to that as potentially ‘over leveraging’ your company. Your are of course repaying that debt from your cash flow and profits, and most business owners and financial managers do not wish to hinder their bank arrangements. In certain cases based on the current economic environment you might even be looking at an acquisition , which is another very solid reason to avoid ‘ senior debt ‘ – By senior debt we usually mean bank and mezzanine or subordinated debt that you have in place .

So what’s the solution? You might be saying, ‘... well leasing isn’t necessarily the solution because that’s more debt right ..? ‘And the answer is: maybe. The reality is that by carefully structuring your capital asset acquisitions as operating leases you avoid some of those balance sheet issues which may have, or could become, a concern.

Canadian business owners might be thinking that the same challenges they faced in obtaining that ‘senior debt’ we spoke of might in fact come into play with lease financing. The reality is that equipment lease financing, particularly when structured properly by an advisor or lender who is credible is in fact very asset focused and places significantly less reliance on the traditional metrics imposed by banks.

As in every aspect of business you should be partnering or consulting with someone who is a recognized expert in equipment lease financing and who will maximize flexibility and take the time to understand your business.

The internet might be a very reasonable choice to find such an expert partner, and of course referrals from your trusted sources are worth their weight in gold also.

In Canada, if you are choosing to enter into lease financing and you do not understand:

The industry players
Credit and documentations issues
Types of Leases
Rates structures based on your credit quality

Etc, then you potentially are at a very significant disadvantage with respect to maximizing the best type of lease financing that your firm can achieve.

Competitive pricing and Approved Financing – those are advantages of Canadian equipment financing!


Most Canadian business owners and financial managers understand the basics of leasing and equipment financing, as the industry had flourished and grown for decades. The basic premise is simple, your Canadian firm wants to use an asset, but not necessarily own it, and, more importantly, you don’t want to pay for it all up front and receive the economic benefits of that asset over a number of years. Lease transactions can typically e three to five years, but some assets have much longer terms, and of course much longer useful economic life.

What can get confusing for some business owners is, on occasion, the various terms around the concept of leasing, you may have heard them many times before. They are terms such as financial lease, capital lease, full payout lease, operating lese, and finance lease. All of these terms refer to the general concept of leasing, and specifically to the types of leases then your firm can enter into. You clearly want to know what type of lease you are entering into!

Why does Canadian business choose to use lease financing as an alternative financing vehicle. We will discuss four of them -

The need to finance

Flexibility and convenience

Risk (asset)

Accounting and tax reasons


So let’s recap a bit about those issues. When we say ‘ need to finance’ your Canadian company has a need for assets and capital expenditures, but you either do not have the cash to purchase those items, and probably if you did you would want that free cash to run your company from an operating perspective, i.e. buy inventory, etc.

With respect to convenience your firm may require the latest technology for, say, computers, or plant production equipment. You certainly don’t intend to purchase an asset for a short time, take the depreciation hit, and then sell it. That would not make business sense.

We alluded to ‘risk ‘as a key concept in lease financing. By that we meant that there are risks associated with many asset types, think computers as an example. New computers and technology come out it seems almost every day – why would we pay full price for an asset that wont be producing to industry requirements in a year or so, and , furthermore, what would we do with that asset after its no long ‘ leading edge’ technology . That is where lease financing in Canada makes perfect sense.

And don’t forget when we said flexibility is a key concept in leasing. It’s never a perfect world with perfect timing in business. Let’s say, using our computer example, that your firm invested in computing technology, or telecom for example, and you structured a lease to use operating lease for 2 years.


Now we come to the end of that 2 year term and what do we find. The asset seems to still be fairly leading edge, and we are receiving fairly good economic benefit. But our lease is up. What do we do? Here comes the flexibility – we call our lessor or trusted leasing advisor and negotiate a 6 or 12 month extension to our lease. Savvy business owners will also ask the lessor to reduce the monthly payment, as the lease company has generally recovered all its initial investment.

Canadian lease financing and equipment financing – is it your only business financing option – No. Should you consider it as one of your financing alternatives – most certainly! 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 asset finance needs.



Stan Prokop - founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial –

Originating business financing for Canadian companies , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing . In business 10 years - Completed in excess of 100 Million $$ of financing for Canadian corporations . Core competancies include receivables financing, asset based lending, working capital, equipment finance, franchise finance and tax credit financing. Info & Contact Details :
http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

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 '

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.
Prior to founding 7 Park Avenue Financial in 2004 his employers over the last 25 years were, ASHLAND OIL, ( 1977-1980) DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION, ( 1980-1990) ) CABLE & WIRELESS PLC,( 1991 -1993) ) AND HEWLETT PACKARD ( 1994-2004 ) He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.

Stan has over 40 years of business and finance executive experience. He has been recognized as a credit/financial executive for three of the largest technology companies in the world; Hewlett-Packard, Digital Equipment and Cable & Wireless. Stan has had in depth, hands on experience in assessing and evaluating thousands of companies that are seeking financing and expansion. He has been instrumental in helping many companies progress through every phase of financing, mergers & acquisitions, sales and marketing and human resources. Stan has worked with startups and public corporations and has many times established the financial wherewithal of organizations before approving millions of dollars of financing facilities and instruments on behalf of his employers.


Stan Prokop