WELCOME !

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

In 2004 I founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL. At that time I had spent all my working life, at that time - Over 30 years in Commercial credit and lending and Canadian business financing. I believe the commercial lending landscape has drastically changed in Canada. I believe a void exists for business owners and finance managers for companies, large and small who want service, creativity, and alternatives.

Every day we strive to consistently deliver business financing that you feel meets the needs of your business. If you believe as we do that financing solutions and alternatives exist for your firm we want to talk to you. Our purpose is simple: we want to deliver the best business finance solutions for your company.



Sunday, June 15, 2014

Purchase Order Financing : The Hidden Genius Of P O Finance Companies















Finance Solution # 68 : P O / Contract Financing



OVERVIEW – Information on purchase order financing in Canada. The ingenius role played by P O finance companies in growing sales revenues when traditional financing can’t be achieved



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



Purchase order financing in Canada
. We've labeled it finance solution # 68. While there probably aren't 67 other different unique financing solutions ahead of it , ( although there is more than you think ) it's safe to say it's probably the least well known, or thought of finance solution in CANADIAN BUSINESS FINANCING .

Let's examine how P O FINANCE COMPANIES market and offer the... dare we say it the ' genius '
of purchase order finance. Let's dig in.

Many businesses in Canada lose out or are forced to step back when it comes to taking on contracts or orders when they realize they don't have the financial resources to successfully fulfill client needs. It might be a single order or a large ongoing contract.

Enter the P O financier. But why then is this a solid solution for growing sales /revenue in a big manner? The answers are perhaps not well known, but simple:

Purchase order financing is not debt

Suppliers/vendors are very comfortable with the concept as they are assured payment

Properly constructed no transaction is really too large when it comes to opportunities that involve legitimate vendors and clients

The added expertise of the Purchase order financier often adds value to the overall transaction

Whether a firm is a start up of established qualifications are still the same to benefit from this unique financing - a verifiable non cancellable order, a legitimate client, and your ability to demonstrate a solid profit margins on the transaction. (P O financing is in fact ' genius ' financing - but its one of the most expensive forms of business finance solutions)


So how exactly does PO / Contract finance work?
What are some of the key mechanics? It starts with understanding that sales revenues are generated from inventory and receivables. Your suppliers for orders or contracts are in effect guaranteed payment for products shipped to your firm under the P O finance facility. The alternative for paying suppliers in advance is to have established bank credit lines in place, and for a variety of reasons that often is impossible for many companies.

So the essence of offerings from P O finance companies is that your firm has the ability to fulfill an order, your client must have the ability to pay for it, and your vendor must be an established firm as independently verified by the finance company.

If your firm wants to utilize or better understand finance solution # 68 - Purchase Order Finance then consider seeking out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success
who can assist you in fulfilling sales and contracts traditionally outside of your firms ability to deliver . It's ' genius'.


Stan Prokop
- 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN PURCHASE ORDER FINANCING EXPERTISE

















Friday, June 13, 2014

Financing Options : How To Survive and Thrive With These Cash Flow Finance Solutions













At the end of the road in Business Loan Solutions ? Avoid Doomsday with these solid choices


OVERVIEW – Information on financing options for medium and small sized businesses in Canada. Which of these cash flow finance solutions works for you











Financing options in Canada - they are all about the ability of your business to thrive, and yes survive.

So whether its cash flow finance solutions or taking on the right amount of needed debt, we're examining the ability of your company to achieve business loan solutions and avoid the ' doomsday' that unfortunately comes with being unable to finance the company. So let's dig in.

The right amount and type of financing is often a solid indicator of general business health. Depending on which ' top expert' you're listening to these days you won’t find any naysayers when it comes to acknowledging the importance of day to day cash flow.

We're quite sure that a good amount of business owners in the SME Commercial sector don't really how much time large corporations, equity investors, and even VC's place on analyzing cash flow in businesses they are looking at.

The ability of your company to access financing options involves how you manage the ins and out's of cash. When it comes to financing things definitely don't happen automatically in business.

Several things need to happen:

Your business has to be able to track financial performance - if you can't show you have a handle on collections, granting credit, identifying cash flow gaps, etc you are in fact on the road to doomsday.

Managing asset turnover and growth is key

The business owner/ financial manager must be able to distinguish between short term needs and long term needs

What are key short term and long term basic financing options - they include, but are not limited to:

SHORT TERM -



Bank lines of business credit
A/R Finance/Confidential Receivable Financing
Inventory finance
SR&ED claim financing (if applicable)
Asset based ABL lines of credit
Royalty financing
P O / Contract financing



LONG TERM




Working capital term loans
Equipment leasing
Cash flow loans


Depending on how well you manage your business your firm will qualify for either traditional bank financing or the alternative, which is in fact ' alternative finance"!

When you approach the accessing of finance key questions the owner/manager needs to address are:

Overall business credit quality - as demonstrated by historical, present, and future cash flow

The amount and type of financing you need (While much business can in act access some form of bank financing we often meet with clients that just can’t get enough!

How does your profit and sales growth enable you to expand business opportunities?


Although traditional financing options are the most flexible and inexpensive, alternative solutions can often provide (at higher cost) all the financing you need to grow. Alternative lenders love assets and high growth!

Avoid that doomsday feeling. Consider seeking out a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in your cash flow financing solutions. There are, (almost always) financing options for every business and every industry.




Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com/financing-options-cash-flow-finance-solutions.html





Have A Question / Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email
= sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com















' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '









































Thursday, June 12, 2014

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










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


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







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

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

It is an irony in business that growth opportunities and the ability to generate more sales and profits simply becomes ' too much of a good thing'
as it relates to the company's ability to handle that growth. While that might refer to people, systems, processes, new assets required we're focusing today on cash flow and working capital availability.

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

ABL (asset based lending) provides one solid solution to that challenge. In effect you are opening the tap
by cash flowing your business assets. Part of the cash flow shortage problem is simply that fact that a ' domino theory' exists in commercial ' business to business' transactions. Each firm stretches out payables- the irony included here is that even the largest corporations and government bodies are sometimes the slowest payers!

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

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

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

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

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




Stan Prokop - 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN ABL ASSET BASED CREDIT LINE EXPERTISE






Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

CONTACT:

7 Park Avenue Financial

South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769
Office = 905 829 2653








Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '






































Wednesday, June 11, 2014

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






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


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







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

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

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

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

We always; point out that the need for any external financing can be eliminated though by some sound internal mgmt (PHYSICIAN HEAL THYSELF?!)
- that includes improving a/r and inventory turns, watching who you extend credit to, and matching finance options to finance needs . For example utilize equipment financing to finance long term fixed asset needs.

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

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

ALTERNATIVES? They include proven financing solutions such as -

Factoring / Confidential Receivable Finance

Secured inventory financing

Monetizing SR ED tax credits via a cash flow loan

Working Capital Term Loans

Sale leaseback strategies

Non bank ABL asset based lines of credit

P O / Contract Financing

Royalty Financing


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

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

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



Stan Prokop
- 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :

7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN BUSINESS LINE OF CREDIT EXPERTISE





Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?


CONTACT:

7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line
= 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '


































Tuesday, June 10, 2014

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











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




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




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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avoid any ' deadly sins’
in asset acquisition by seeking out and speaking to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business Financing Advisor with a track record of success who can assist you in your lease finance needs.





Stan Prokop
- 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :


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




Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?

CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial

South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line = 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653










Email =
sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '

























Sunday, June 8, 2014

Independent Film Financiers In Canada : Financing Tax Credit Incentives
















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



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






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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



Stan Prokop
- 7 Park Avenue Financial :

http://www.7parkavenuefinancial.com

Business financing for Canadian Firms , specializing in working capital, cash flow, asset based financing , Equipment Leasing , franchise finance and Cdn. Tax Credit Finance . Founded 2004 - Completed in excess of 90 Million $ of financing for Canadian corporations . Info /Contact :



7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL = CANADIAN FILM TAX CREDIT AND LOAN FINANCING EXPERTISE







Have A Question /Comment On Our Blog Or Canadian Business Financing Alternatives ?
CONTACT:
7 Park Avenue Financial
South Sheridan Executive Centre
2910 South Sheridan Way
Suite 301
Oakville, Ontario
L6J 7J8

Direct Line
= 416 319 5769

Office = 905 829 2653



Email = sprokop@7parkavenuefinancial.com


' Canadian Business Financing with the intelligent use of experience '