Working Capital and Cash Flow Financing Basics

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What If … You Had All the Solutions & Info You Need About Financing Your Business Cash Flow Requirements
RECEIVABLE FINANCING – FACTORING SHOULD BE # 4 ON YOUR LIST !

Canadian business owners and financial managers often ask about assessing the different alternatives to their overall business financing strategy – Receivable financing – factoring can be one of the cornerstones of a creative alternative financial solution for their business. We sometimes hesitate to use the word ‘alternative ‘because quite frankly this method of financing is becoming as mainstream as things can get!

Canadian business can be financed in one of four different ways – You need to be able to asses the methods utilized in those four categories and which one, or ones, makes sense for your firm.

Business is financed of course by your own shareholder equity – Equity is expensive because when you give it up, or sell ownership in your business your overall position becomes diluted and your return on investment diminishes.

The three other methods of financing, in lieu of equity of ownership relinquishing are:

Debt

Grants

Asset Financing

Debt of course comes in the form of good debt and bad debt – we would, as an example categorize a commercial mortgage as good debt – a cash flow working capital loan might be another example. However, the reality is that most business owners recognize the dangers of debt and how that increased leverage can be a double edged sword.

Clients are always asking us about ‘governments grants and loans ‘. In our opinion there are only two respectable grant/loan programs in Canada – the SR&ED program, and the CSBF program – the former is a non repayable grant, the latter is simply a great government loan for financing equipment and leaseholds.

So that brings us to # 4- Asset financing. Depending on the type of business and industry you are in your asses include inventory, land, equipment, and receivables.

A very strong case can be made that #4 should in fact be #1 when it comes to working capital and cash flow financing – Simply speaking your assets need to be monetized in the best manner in which to bring you liquidity.

Receivable financing – factoring is in fact the quickest and most efficient manner to bring immediate cash flow to your business. Why is that the case – simply because it involves no debt coming on our balance sheet, no payments are made as in a loan type scenario, cash flow is immediate, and the reality is, that if you have negotiated the right factor facility then you are in control of your overall cash flow requirements?

The benefits of a receivable financing factor facility are very clear once you understand the process. Generally a factor facility, aka an invoice discounting or receivable financing facility can be negotiated in a couple of weeks from start to finish. To the extent that your business is growing you essentially have successfully completed a financing that gives you unlimited cash flow. We say unlimited, because if your sales and receivables grow your cash flow and working capital grow in lock step to that growth!

Cash flow and working capital from a factor facility can be used to increase inventory, take on more purchase orders and contracts, and, in general meet working capital guidelines.

The overall process for a receivable financing –factoring facility is simple. You sell some or all of your invoices to your factor partner firm – You receive generally 90% of that invoice amount that same day as cash in your bank account. When your customer pays the factor firm keeps a ‘discount fee ‘based on the total time it took your customer to pay.

Discount fees, or as clients prefer to call them, ‘factoring rates ‘vary in Canada. Factors (excuse the pun) that affect your fee are the size of facility, who you deal with, the method in which your facility operates, and the overall quality of your customer base.

Speak to a credible, trusted, an experienced business financing advisor – Find out today why the 4thmethod of financing your business might just be the best!

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .

' 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

SRED Financing - SR&ED Finance Loans in Canada

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SRED Financing is your firm's ability to take immediate cash flow and working capital advantage of our SR&ED tax credit claim. This program, (formal name = Scientific Research and Experimental Development) is bar none the best tax incentive program in Canada. Other than being taxable as income the refund you receive from the government is a non repayable grant. What could be better than that?

The irony in this great program is simply that almost 70% of companies in Canada that are eligible for the program do not even apply, let alone receive their funds! It clearly is a source of untapped cash flow and working capital for your Canadian business that should be maximized to the hilt.

The other 30% of Canadian firms who use the program utilize it around their efforts to develop new products and services, building prototypes, and solving technological challenges.

So your Canadian controlled private company utilizes and files SRED filings. Did you know your claim can be financing immediately after you file it, literally the same day. Specialists that work as 'SR&ED consultants are experts in preparing your claim and in Canada your SRED claim can be prepared at your cost - and you keep all the proceeds of the government grant, or alternatively, your claim can be done on a contingency basis, at no cost to yourself, and the consultant usually keeps anywhere from 10-30% of the total refund received.

However most Canadian business owners and their SRED consultants do not know that your claim can be financing, either during the preparation of your claim, (yes, before your file, if you qualify!) or immediately on filing of your claim.

Generally with this type of financing you receive immediately approximately 70% of the value of your claim. The other 30% still comes back you of course, but its simply a bit of a buffer to cover financing costs and any risk that a portion of the claim will be disallowed or clawed back.

When we think in terms of specialty financing we can categorically state that SRED financing is specialty financing in Canada. We urge clients to locate a business financing advisor who has credibility, experience and background in this area.

The SRED financing process is not as complicated as you seem if you are well prepared and have access to good assistance. Its as simply as completing a basic business financing application, ensuring proper back up is in place and valid. That includes info on your company, the SRED claim itself, your previous SRED claims if you have filed previously etc.

The reality is that SRED financing can be completed within 2-3 weeks of starting the process. The beauty of this type of financing is that no payments are made on the SRED loan. In effect you can say that you have factored or discounted the SRED claim. You are simply waiting for your cheque from Ottawa, and are making use of the working capital and cash flow now. That's a solid interim financing strategy for many firms, and that cash can be used for reduction of payables, investments in new equipment, additional staff, etc. The bottom line = any general worthwhile corporate purpose.

In summary, of course ensure you are taking advantage of Canada's Sr&Ed program. Once that is the case you have the option of financing your claim, allowing you to maximize the true benefits of the program, i.e. the recovery of your R&D expenses in the most time efficient manner possible. That's a solid financial strategy.

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .

' 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/4303816

Is a Sale Leaseback of My Business Assets a Good Thing?

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At various points in the economic cycle a business owner or financial manager considers a sale leaseback financing . Is that type of transaction advantageous, and what are the risks and benefits?

Many firms do not fully know about or understand the advantages of this type transaction. This is a classic alternative financing strategy that works best when it is a good deal for the lessee and the lessor. It does not work well when the lessor presumes it is a 'cash grab' by the lessee.

This type of financing should be contemplated if your firm has the following characteristics:

- Experiencing working capital challenges

- Declining profits

- Excess unencumbered assets

- High amount of debt

If a company has a high amount of debt a sale leaseback transaction can still be a very positive financing event. By structuring the the transasction as an operating lease the debt becomes 'off balance sheet '. This gives the appearance of the company being not so highly leveraged and quite often it can save the company from being in default of its loan covenants.

In many cases the sale leaseback can bring a significant amount of capital back into the firm.

So when does a firm consider such a transaction - every industry is different but if the firm is bottom line, over leverage, i.e. Debt too high, there can be advantages to an off balance sheet sale leaseback transaction.

If a company has historically had pride of ownership, and has significant assets, and is suddenly going through a high growth stage it also becomes a good candidate for a sale leaseback. Cash flows are restructured and the company gains significant new working capital.

The best candidates, overall, for this type of financing strategy are high growth companies who would prefer to invest additional cash in receivables and inventory. Naturally no lessor wants to consider such a financing if the company is in some sort of death spiral.

In some cases when assets have in fact appreciated (not depreciated in value) the company may actually be able to report a gain in earnings, as the sale leaseback transaction in excess of book value allows the company to book the sale leaseback gain into the profit account!

Many government institutions, such as municipalities, hospitals, etc may find this type of financing strategy as optimal in solving temporary budget cuts and working capital challenges.

In summary, a properly structured sale leaseback can provide new cash, enhance earnings, and in effect be a creative way to temporarily re finance the firm or institution.

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .

' 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/3723483

Inventory Finance Solutions Required ? Here They Are !

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Inventory Finance Solutions Required ? Here They Are !

Information on financing inventory . Loans for inventories require specialized finance solutions - Here's why !

Inventory loans or the financing of your inventory as a component of working capital are critical to the success of your business if your firm has a strong inventory component in working capital.


Inventory is one of the two components of working capital – the other is of course receivables. More often than not the receivable asset is typically larger, on a monthly basis than the inventory assets – but some firms based on the nature of what they do have a very heavy investment in inventory.


Inventory converts into receivable which convert into cash. We all know that. The crux of the matter though is the time in which this happens. Your ability as a manufacturer, wholesaler, etc to purchase inventory, re work it , bill your customer, and then, ( unfortunately ) wait for your account receivable to get paid in many cases can take 2-3 month . The financial analysts call this whole process the cash conversion cycle – the only way you can slow that cycle down and improve cash flow is, unfortunately, to delay payments to suppliers as long as you can . That’s not a desirable operating strategy.


Inventory financing and inventory loans work best when they are often within the context of a true asset based lending arrangement for a combination of inventory and receivables. However the bottom line is as we have stated - financing in this critical area of business financing is available, it’s specialized, but when properly put in place can significantly grow sales and profits.




So is there a solution. There is of course, and in Canada it is a highly specialized solution involving the financing of inventory as a key driver to improve your cash flow and working capital. If done properly you do not incur extra term debt – the reality is that all you are doing is ‘monetizing ‘inventory to generate additional cash flow and working capital for your growth and profits.


One or two critical challenges continually obstruct our client’s ability to properly monetize their working capital. Let’s examine some of those challenges and determine how they can be overcome.


The first challenge is simply that it is becoming increasingly difficult to obtain inventory financing from traditional sources such as the Canadian chartered banks. In fairness to our friends at the banks it simply is difficult for them to properly value and monitor and understand each company’s different inventory financing needs and the cash cycle around that inventory that we have discussed. One further technical issue arises here, which is simply that if your firm has an operating lender in place that lender has probably, sometimes unknowing to yourself, taken a security on the inventory as a part of their security agreement. That‘s not optimal, your inventory is collateralized, but you don’t receive any funding or margining against it.


We meet with many clients who are in this position, and need to work with them to unravel their current financing to properly allow for the monetization of their inventory via an inventory loan or margining facility.


Inventory financing in Canada is specialized – as we’ve noted. We strongly recommend you seek and work with a trusted, credible, and experienced advisor in this area .What are the benefits of such a relationship. First of all your inventory will be properly ‘understood ‘and valued, allowing you to borrow against its value accordingly. It is an unwritten but generally acceptable rule that most banks lend approximately 40% against inventory assets. Two points here – if you can get bank financing on inventory and get that 40% advance we would pretty well recommend you take it ; however if that becomes insurmountable, as it does for most clients, you actually can get anywhere from 40-75% from a true inventory financier .


Are there any special requirements to get proper inventory financing? In general no – a standard business financing application applies, and you must be able to demonstrate, preferable via a perpetual inventory system , that you can account for and report on your inventory on hand, usually on a monthly, but perhaps on a weekly basis .


If your business relies heavily on inventory as a key component for sales and profit growth consider the structuring of a proper inventory financing arrangement either separately or within the context of a true asset based lending or working capital facility .

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .



' Canadian Business Financing With The Intelligent Use Of Experience '

Business Inventory and Purchase Order Financing Canada

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Inventory & Purchase Order Finance In Canada : Bottom Line ? It's Not Complicated!

Information on key benefits and aspects of business inventory finance and purchase order financing in Canada

Many Canadian business owners and financial managers are not fully aware of the availability and benefits of business inventory and purchase order financing .. These types of financing are very ‘niche ‘and are specialized areas of business financing in Canada.

The reality of these two financings is that they can be arranged individually, but quite often are sought by business owners as a combination as they are inherently linked by their very nature. That is say that your firm receives a purchase order (p.o.) or contract, and as a result required working capital and additional cash flow to buy the inventory required to fulfill those customer needs.

Business owners want to ‘unlock ‘the cash and working capital that they have in inventory. If your firm qualifies for traditional bank financing you will be margined against the inventory, in much the same manner as a bank would margin receivables. The challenge in the current financial environment is that banks, which have traditionally not enjoyed financing inventory, are even somewhat more reluctant to embrace this type of financing these days.


So are there solutions. Yes there are. In Canada you need to seek out and explore the services of a trusted and credible business financing advisor who can guide you through the inventory and po... financing maze. The basic solution to the business inventory finance challenge is a collateralized loan against inventory. What has to be addressed though is the relationship of that loan or working capital advance to the security you might currently have in place against your business vis a vis receivables , etc . That requires somewhat of a skill in order to satisfy all secured parties and give you the working capital you need in a manner that makes sense.

The exercise of obtaining this type of financing is worth if when you have a significant investment in inventory and your inventory asset can be collateralized and liquidated in some manner .We say this , because, as most business owners know inventory come sin three forms, raw materials, work in process, and finished goods. So care must be given in the analysis of what type of inventory you maintain and what are those three different levels within your working capital cycle.

Ultimately you should explore business inventory and purchase order financing ( In p.o. financing your suppliers are paid directly by the purchase order finance firm) if you are always short of cash flow and working capital, or have seasonality in your business cycle – i.e. huge amounts of product required for the Xmas season would be a good example.

Your firm is a candidate for business inventory financing if you can demonstrate the ultimate saleability of the inventory, as it of course becomes the main collateral. If you are unable to demonstrate the marketability of your inventory as collateral you will have a major challenge in obtaining this type of financing.

If your firm identifies inventory as a major working capital component and you have solid gross margins (inventory financing can be more expensive than traditional financing) you should explore the benefits of such business financing.

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .



'

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

A Better Way To Finance A Business Loan ? Consider The Asset Finance Strategy

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ABL Asset Finance - A Winning Business Financing Solution

Information on how the business loan strategy known as ' ABL Asset Finance ' can be utilized to run and grow your company

When you need asset finance and a business loan in the current economic environment any alternatives are great. One of those solid alternatives is an asset based lending arrangement which focuses on what counts, your assets!


As a business owner and/or financial manager you are looking for business financing that makes sense. ABL is the acronym for one of the more exciting business financing alternatives that is growing in popularity every year in Canada. Are we actually saying that asset finance via an asset based line of credit is ' exciting '? We will let you decide that, but if this financing is easier to achieve than bank financing, is cost effective, and provides you with unlimited capital... well our clients are excited... you make your own thoughts on that !


Asset based lines of credit simply are drawn down by your firm based on the value of ongoing assets. The assets that are always there are inventory, A/R, and to some degree your fixed assets that aren’t already financed. By collateralizing your assets, and, most importantly, leveraging them to the max if you need to, you are creating available working capital.


We are always explaining to clients that this leverage of assets is not taking on debt, you are not borrowing on a long term basis, and you are simply monetizing current and fixed assets based on current values. What are those values, typically they are 90-100% of receivables under 90 days, 40-75% of your inventory, and a liquidation type value on any equipment you want to temporarily monetize. Clients always ask - ' Do you mean that we can borrow, if we need to, on a temporary but ongoing basis on our fixed assets?". The answer is yes, if you are considering this type of financing strategy.


Let’s cover off the two key points clients always tend to focus on when they are investigating this unique business loan strategy- namely costs, and timelines to get the working capital facility in place.


In some ways cost is the most difficult area of explanation and investigation in an asset finance working capital facility. Putting aside the normal due diligence or commitment fee required to get a facility in place the reality is that there are a couple of key drivers that affect pricing . Asset finance revolvers can be just as competitive as a Canadian chartered bank financing (and less onerous to get approved) but prices varies all over the board in Canada because of the fragmented and specialized nature of this type of financing.


Typically we see rates as low as 9% per annum and as high as 1.5% per month. That’s a big spread and ultimately it depends on the size of the facility, the mix of your current assets, as well as any perceived industry or business risk associated with your firm. But again, we remind the reader, what price would you pay for unlimited working capital?


Typically it takes 2-4 weeks to close such a facility. In Canada as we noted the market is fragmented and these lenders are very focused, specialized, and by nature experienced in what they do, which is value your assets and finance them!


Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor around asset finance as a business loan strategy if your working capital needs ' aren't working ' now!

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

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 100 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations .

' 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