Acquisition Financing In Canada : Avoiding The Wrong Distractions

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The Psychology Around Buying, Selling & Financing Issues In Acquisitions & Mergers

OVERVIEW – Information on acquisition financing in Canada . Knowing key issues around buyer and seller & financing ‘ hot points ‘ makes buying or selling a business with success a high odds strategy

Acquisition financing in Canada almost always involves validating the price you're going to pay to purchase a small / medium enterprise. One reason is that companies in the SME sector don't always have the same talent available to price real value. Business people should of course rely on their trusted advisors for professional help in that area, but this article will hopefully give them insight and advice into their challenge.

The terms involved in financing a business you are buying can themselves be overwhelming to those who don't regularly work with
EBITDA, intangible assets, capitalization and discount rates, etc!


We would point out that as technically overwhelming as some of those issues might be, there is even a whole additional layer of complexity around longer term issues down the road. These would include:

- Owner and management compensation

- Insurance planning

- Estate planning

- exist strategy


With reference to our last point on ' exit strategy ' imagine the look on some purchasers faces when they have not even completed the deal and are encourage to talk about an ' exit strategy '!


At the heart of the matter around the final price paid for a business is the concept that both parties feel they have reached a fair deal. As we all know the buyers and sellers perception of the same deal might vary greatly. Ultimately all the technical jargon around buying a business comes down to a term such as 'reasonable market value'.

As common sense as this may sound it also has its challenges since is it only a hypothetical value based on all the difference financial elements related to the purchase of a business.


The most commonly used valuation of a business is known as ' value of future earnings '... Accountants and financial advisors often project earnings out as far as ten years and try and then place some value and normalcy around those future profits. Our on piece of advice in this area is simply that owners should not focus solely on future earnings potential; there are other factors to be taken into consideration.


Some of those other factors of course include the true value of the current business assets, such as equipment, real estate, fixtures and leaseholds, etc. We can only say that as critical as those assets are they must be supported by the company's ability to generate the cash flow to support those assets and grow the business.

Buyers and sellers frequently disagree on the total purchase price, with all sorts of psychology kicking in around prices being set artificially high for negotiations purposes, the buyers focus on a low- ball offer, etc.

We would also point out the buy/sell challenge is accentuated when it relates to a ' service' firm as opposed to a product firm. Many experts agree that ultimately the valuation of the business was so far out of whack that this clouded any possible attempts to negotiate a fair price for buyer and seller.

The bottom line: buying or selling a small to medium enterprise has its challenges. If owners are aware of the key basics around the technical aspects of the matter they can successfully utilize third party assistance (accountant, lawyer, trusted financial advisor) to consummate a successful transaction.

Buyers and sellers must focus on tangible issues as well as all the intangibles that come into play in order to assist in a proper (and a successful) buy or sell. Methods to finance a purchase depend on the overall size and credit quality of the business. Commonly used financing techniques in acquisitions and mergers include:

Asset Based Loans

Non bank asset based lines of credit

Govt Small Business Term Loan

Cash flow loans/ Mezzanine Debt

Traditional bank financing

A/R finance

Sale leaseback strategies

Vendor take backs

If you're looking to successfully explore the key aspects of buying and selling a business seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with buying or selling your business.

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 13 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

Acquisition Financing In Canada : Charting The Right Way To Finance The Business Purchase

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Looking At Buying A Business? Merging? Here’s Financing Information To Help Complete The Deal

OVERVIEW – Information on acquisition financing in Canada. Know what finance sources are available to complete a business purchase or merger is critical to long term success

Acquisition financing in Canada, what the Bay Street guys and ladies call “M & A “in high finance parlance is a very specialized part of the business journey. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as complex as it might seem. Here's why. Let's dig in.

Naturally larger transactions in this area are handled by investment bankers or merchant banks - those are the deals we read about every day in the business papers - but what about the SME area - that huge part of the Canadian economy? Everyday a number of small and medium size businesses either complete or contemplate such transactions.

Generally when a business owner or management team contemplates a merger or acquisition there is a 'strategy 'behind the transaction. So why consider such a transaction?

Many companies simply realize that there is business logic and a risk component to diversifying out of their core businesses. We all know that 'diversification' is preached in all areas of financing, including our personal financial strategies. Companies who merge or acquire other firms for diversification realize they are lowering overall business risk.

Many times there are some classic synergies that can make a transaction in the 'M & A' environment very appealing. If a firm has a strong brand and they can add additional products to that brand then and grow both profits and sales that becomes a viable transaction. A smaller firm might have more of a 'reputation' than a 'brand' of course.

Does a business have to be doing well to be considered for a purchase or merger - Definitely not! In the current business and economic environment there are many undervalued or struggling companies. These businesses can be perhaps purchased at a bargain, and may in fact be worth many times their current valuation due to unique circumstances.
Acquisition financing solutions include:

Asset based loans

Term loans

Franchise Loans

Cash Flow Loans

Vendor Take Back Strategies

Sale Leasebacks

Canadian Govt Guaranteed Small Business Loan - aka 'The SBL'

The other reason companies consider a merger specifically is the ability to lower costs while at the same time increasing revenue. That is simply a scenario in which many costs can be lowered in the overhead and operating expense departments.

In some cases, say a manufacturing company, efficiencies can be realized. Unfortunately this sometimes comes at a 'human cost 'as downsizing is common in this area of mergers and acquisitions.

In some cases an acquisition can simply be current management buying the company from the current owners. This is typically called an LBO, or 'leveraged buyout '. Management usually puts in some new equity into the company and in many circumstances assets are refinanced at the same time.

In summary the merger and acquisition area is a unique area of business financing. Business owners must have a solid rationale, as well as a strategy, for contemplating these types of transactions. If you're looking for real world expertise in buying a business or merging seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your 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 13 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

Business Credit & Finance Alternatives In Canada : The Asset Based Finance Choice

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Stop Me If You’ve Heard This But Isn't Business Credit Still Challenging and Why All The Excitement About Asset Based Financing ?

OVERVIEW – Information on business credit solutions in Canada. Finance strategies such as asset based financing and other alternatives can provide all the capital you need to run and grow your business

Business credit and financing alternatives are dramatically different in Canada when compared to the U.S. . Why is that? One reason is that asset based finance alternatives abound south of the border. So stop us if you’ve in fact heard this, but the good news is that the trend is reversing and new transactions are being completed everyday in this asset financing category. Let's dig in.

Canadian businesses who need financing in excess of 250k (the upper limit is almost unlimited) can benefit from this relatively new Canadian financing strategy.

Clients we talk to always have questions as to what the financing actually is and, more importantly, how it works and does their firm qualify.

It is always surprising to us that asset based lending is still probably less than 5% of Canadian business credit while in the U.S. it accounts for hundreds of billions of dollars of ongoing business financing.

ABL, the acronym for asset based financed is simply loans secured by collateral (assets). In the case of a line of credit, it's secured by inventory, accounts receivable and/or other balance-sheet assets. Typically these loans are ' non bank ' in nature. You may not have heard that the banks actually have small divisions within the bank that also focus on asset based lending!

Lets address the qualification issue first - the reality is that if your firm has business assets in receivables , inventory, equipment , and even real estate those assets can be monetized into a business line of credit that focuses on the asset - Bottom line ? Less emphasis is placed on the overall quality or condition of your balance sheet and income statement. You got it - it's all about ... the assets!

No secret those Canadian chartered bank lines of credit provide a similar and more often than not less expensive form of financing via revolving lines of credit. Banks offer this type of financing outside their normal business banking, but qualifications and deal size are still somewhat challenging to meet in our opinion

When it comes to the banks most business owners know those facility offerings focus on balance sheet and income statement strength, ratios that must be met, and heavy emphasis on personal covenants and outside collateral. That's the key difference!


When you negotiate an A B L facility you and the lender agree up front on the market value of your ongoing receivables, inventory, and unencumbered equipment. That collateral becomes the essence of your financing and drawdown capability.

So why is this all different from a bank? The answer is simply - banks have regulated formulaic methods of financing business - in fact many would agree that bank business credit got increasingly difficult to get since the 2008 worldwide debacle. No question things are getting better though with financial markets and business credit becoming a lot more accessible.

So about these ABL players. Finance firms offering asset based lending are not regulated in the same manner, do business in almost every industry in Canada, even those that are deemed ' out of favor 'and the management of these firms typically have years of experience in lending against receivables, inventory (yes, inventory!), with the additional enhancement of allowing you to monetize your credit facility by including some borrowing against your equipment for ongoing working capital and cash flow.

Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced business financing advisor in this specialized area and find out how a new financing facility can put you head and shoulders above your competition in overall financing strategy.

P.S. Don’t forget also that several other key asset finance strategies can enhance your business financing success – they include SR&ED tax credit financing, Confidential A/R Financing , equipment loans, sale leasebacks, securitization – etc.



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 13 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

What If Inventory Financing Lenders Were the Solution to Your Cash Flow Based Financing

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Information on on how Canadian business owners and financing managers can access inventory financing lenders for cash flow based financing and additional working capital. Requirements to initiate an inventory and PO finance strategy for your firm

Just what if your firm had a significant inventory component and you had access to cash flow and working capital against that inventory investment in working capital that your firm has made.

A proper inventory financing facility in Canada is one in which you can draw down on a satisfactory level of your inventory value and repaid it as you replenish capital via account receivable and cash collections. Your success in achieving a proper inventory financing component in your overall business financing in effect optimizes your working capital to the extent you need to.

How would your overall financial position change with that additional working capital and cash flow? You would then have the ability to take on additional contracts and purchase orders, your supplier relationships would most probably improve, and faster asset turnover of assets and receivable generates faster profits and return on assets. Those are good things.

The main advantage of an inventory financing or A/R financing component is your ability to accelerate cash flow. Let's be honest, if you were self financing (i.e. no borrowing facilities) and had to wait for inventory to be sold and receivables collected then you are significantly slowing your growth ability.

In the context of the inventory financing we are discussing this financing is not a loan per se - that's important to understand. It becomes a part of your revolving facility and is simply collateralized by receivables and inventory.

Your inventory financing arrangement is reflected in a type of document generally known as borrowing base certificate. We also advise our clients that it is highly preferable to have a strong handle on your inventory reporting, and also you should preferably be using some sort of a perpetual inventory accounting system.

Inventory is a very generic term, we hate to do it but we complicate things further by discussing with clients the fact that inventory can consist of raw materials, work in process, and of course final finished goods inventory. As a result the valuation of what is financed varies by industry and inventory type. Slow moving or highly specialized product is much more difficult, but not impossible, to finance.

Could you be more competitive and profitable if you have inventory financing at 40-50% of your gross inventory value - we are pretty sure you could be!

On larger transactions you should fully expect some sort of initial appraisal and valuation on your inventory.

In Canada inventory finance is highly specialized, we can almost call it a niche financing. Speak to a trusted, credible, and experienced business financing advisor to determine if this financing works for you. Through that process you should be able to develop a clear understand of the differences between bank financing, asset based lending, which incorporates inventory finance, and purchase order financing if that is applicable to your business model.

At this point you are now in a position to ensure that inventory financing advances are a great way to acquire mfr and carry inventory for orders and contracts you receive

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 13 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/5107248

Business Credit Needs ? Here’s Your Working Capital & Financing Primer!

Business Financing Alternatives In Canada

OVERVIEW – Information on business credit in Canada . Numerous sources of working capital, cash flow and asset financing solutions currently dominate the SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE market . Which one is right for your firm

Business credit needs are anything if not... consistent! In many cases the access to capital/ loans/ financing is one of the biggest obstacles to growth for a large section of companies constantly searching for SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE solutions. So how does the owner/mgmt ensure they access to commercial financing needed to grow the company. Let's dig in.

You can't find it if you don't know what you are looking for. What do we mean by that? Simply that cash flow, working capital, business financing can be sometimes ' overworked' ' catch all' terms that mean various things to various people.

When we're talking to clients we discuss the need first, not the solution! Thankfully those needs can be nicely broken down into several categories as follows: day to day operating capital, immediate growth needs for new opportunities, equipment and asset acquisition, hard asset refinancing.

The most common ' go to ' solution in the eyes of ownership/mgmt is to solicit chartered bank financing in Canada. If your firm has a strong balance sheet , profits, established history and additional collateral etc you'll find all the financing you need from our chartered banks who have virtually unlimited financing potential .

That's easy for us to say, but the majority of clients we meet simply can qualify for all business credit and working capital they need to survive and grow. Typically they have some traditional financing but not enough, or, in a more severe case, do not qualify for traditional bank lending in the Canadian landscape. So what's the plan?

When the going gets tough, the tough get going goes the expression, so it is a case of getting somewhat ' creative' in your search for working capital .If your firm has assets and growth prospects we firmly believe you can get most, if not all the financing you need.

This financing can be achieved in a number of ways. Strategies include monetizing your current assets via a working capital facility for receivables and inventory. Properly set up you should congratulate yourself - You just negotiated unlimited working capital! The reason? These facilities allow you to borrow on an ongoing basis relative to the size of your current asset investment in accounts receivable and inventory.

We referred to generalization of terms such as cash flow, working capital, etc - the lending we have just described is best known as asset based lending, and in many cases can cover off purchase orders and new contracts also.

What about acquiring new assets for your business? Equipment financing and sale leaseback financing for either new or owned/unencumbered equipment are great solutions to acquire or refinance capital acquisitions. In Canada lease financing is available for all asset and credit qualities for any amount, from 1000.00 to millions of dollars.


Although the majority of clients we discuss working capital needs with are private firms your firm might be public, as a result you might be in a position to consider an equity line of credit, with the equity questions being your stock.

If your firm has revenues under 5 Million dollars and is privately owned you should consider the best financing available in Canada - it's the government BIL/CSBF loan that is underwritten by our good friends in Ottawa.

Loans up to 500,000.00$ are available for hard assets such as equipment, leaseholds, real estate, etc. You can even be a start up and qualify. The financing rate is incredible attractive, guarantees are limited, and terms and structure flexible. This program is one of the great secrets in Canadian business financing.

It’s always about the bottom line, so what’s our bottom line today? Focus on what type of financing you need, determine if you qualify for traditional financing, and if you don't get creative with a multitude of solutions available.

Confused? Hopefully not. Seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced business financing advisor who will guide you through the maze to what we believe will be the right solution for your firm.


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 13 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

Benefits Of Invoice Factoring And Factors That Affect The Cost Of Factoring Receivables

Cash Flow Challenges Become Your Regular Routine?

Here’s A Solution If You’re Serious About Changing That

OVERVIEW – Information on the cost of factoring receivables in Canada. Invoice finance is currently the most popular method of accessing immediate cash flow finance sales activity

Invoice factoring, and other versions of receivable finance / asset based financing in Canada, and the cash flow challenges that come with running a business remind us of that classic movie ' BEING THERE' starring Peter Sellers. Sellers, playing a ‘savant’ gardener in the movie says " and then we get spring and summer again”!


In the movie he has a ' routine ' in life - things are always the same. How then can Canadian business owners and financial mgrs break out of the constant cash flow challenge cycle? Receivable finance is one clear solution to that problem.
As an owner/mgr you know the drill - working capital is tied up in your A/R and inventory. Can invoice financing help untie that capital.

Let's address that issue around the following key points: Exactly what is factoring, what are the benefits for your firm, what does it cost, and how does it work. That's a mouthful, but your understanding of these key issues could be the first step in your better understanding of one of the most popular methods of business financing today in Canada.
Factoring is the method by which you ' sell ' your receivables as soon as you issue them. Selling anything gets you ' cash ' and that's the core premise of factoring. The largest, most successful corporation in Canada also offloads their receivables. They do that under a fancier method - securitization - at the end of the day it’s the same thing - Selling you A/R constantly as you make sales to generate instant cash.


Do you have to sell your receivables? Of course not - you can wait 30/60/90 days for your customers to pay you - but you've been there already and that's not working!


So what then is the main benefit of factoring solutions? Essentially it's unlimited working capital in cash flow as you grow your sales. How can we say unlimited cash flow - well, simply because if you have receivables you will always have immediate cash for them. Cash flow problem solved!


Part of the problem in our clients understanding the cost of factoring is that they view it always as an ' interest rate '. A/R commercial finance firms don't call it that - it is a discount rate. They purchase your receivable (either on, some or all of your invoices) at a discount - That discount in Canada is anywhere from 1-2%. The norm tends to be closer to 1.5 - 2%. So a best case scenario is giving up $150.00 on a $ 10,000.00 receivable.

So who in fact ' qualifies' for this type of financing? The reality is that if you have receivables you qualify! This type of financing covers pretty well every industry in Canada. There seems to be a number of industries that are always using factoring - i.e. trucking/transportation, staffing, security guards, etc - but don't be confused by that point - if you have a receivable, Canadian, U.S. or otherwise , it can be financed - or in our lingo ' sold' and ' cash flowed'. Even international receivables can be financed with a few modifications to the program.


So are there alternatives to factoring? Of course you can arrange more traditional financing via a bank, Canadian credit union, etc. However, that type of financing comes with stringent requirements, including solid financial performance, personal guarantees, other collateral, etc.


A/R finance facilities can be efficiently put in place - the process simply involves a basic application and the documentation to register the facility, in a similar manner that any bank would, i.e. a security agreement on your receivables, etc.
One other key benefit is facility size - at a bank type revolving line of credit you have of course a limit, and you can't exceed that limit .That concept goes out the window with your receivable financing facility because your limit grows lock step with your sales and receivable investment. That's true unlimited financing!


It always comes down to cost and the overall pricing of your facility will depend on several factors - the overall size of your receivable portfolio, its credit quality, how your customers have paid traditionally, etc.


We recently met with a customer who advised us that their total all in rate with a Canadian bank, including the rate and fees for all services, etc, was close to 11-12% when you factor everything in. Let's say your factoring rate was 2% per month. And lets also say you now had unlimited cash to pay suppliers promptly, take prompt payment discounts, and negotiate better pricing.
There really isn't in most cases that much more difference in factor pricing and bank pricing when you weigh in all the comparables.


Speak to a trusted , credible, and experienced business financing advisor who can assist you in determining the best A/R pricing for your firm , and allow you to focus on benefits that you can reap from this growing in popularity business financing in Canada .

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 13 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