วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 30 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2554

Commercial Loans for Small Business and Job Creation

Well, it looks like our economy is finally turning the corner and the small businesses are starting to show a profit, much like the corporations have been for the last 18 months. Indeed, there are a lot of retained earnings at the corporate level, and the banks are on solider footing and willing to make more small business loans now.
We are also entering an election year, and typically that is good news for the US economy. In my retirement I do a little bit of business consulting, and the other day I was assisting a small business person prepare a business plan, put together some proformas, and the other required documents to secure a business loan. She had decided not to go with a SBA or Small Business Administration loan because of all the stipulations and requirements, which did not make sense for her financial wherewithal, and abundance of personal assets.
Nevertheless we got to talking about what she was planning on doing with the money and it turns out she was going to expand her business so she could make more money. In doing so she will be hiring more individuals, and right away she will be hiring three new salespeople and two for marketing. That's five additional jobs that she will be creating. She will use some of the loan money for cash flow as the salespeople and marketing department sign up new corporate accounts.
Indeed, perhaps this shows how commercial loans for small business adds to job creation in this country. The corporations are very good at collecting money for their goods and services, and they are extremely good at lobbying protectionistic rules and regulations from government to stifle their competition or put up barriers to entry. But for a small business person caught in the trap of a poor business cycle or the uncertainty of future regulations it causes entrepreneurs to forgo the risks associated with business expansion, or taking out more credit in their personal name or in the name of their business.
Prior to now, there was not a whole lot of lending going on in her industry or sector, and although there was some, it hasn't been until now that she felt confident enough to go out and risk capital or borrow more money. Now she does feel confident, and she is moving this ball forward and down the field. Indeed I hope this will help others see how important commercial loans are for small business and job creation. Please consider all this and think on it.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 26 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2554

Choosing Your Banker for Commercial Loan Financing

Starting a business is a difficult and arduous experience. In order to reduce stress and maximize profits in the long run, it can be helpful to know some basic information on how to choose the right banker, especially if you need commercial loan financing. First, before you start the research on commercial banking, it is a good idea to write down a list of all your business needs in addition to commercial loan financing. Looking at this list and prioritizing your needs will allow you to find out which ones best fit your business. After you have done this, you should start comparing different commercial banks by visiting their websites. Looking through various websites will allow you to easily find out if they have online banking, where their branch is located, and what type of services they can offer your business.
Once you have found a commercial bank that best fits your needs, it is always a good idea to build a positive relationship with your commercial banker. This is important because your commercial banker will be investing in you and your company, so having an overall pleasant relationship with them from the beginning will make it a lot easier on everyone. In addition, your commercial bank should not only have a good relationship with you and your business, but they should also be able to understand your industry as well. From there, they can work to figure out which commercial loan financing is best for you, and how to accommodate any of your business needs. One example of a potential business need could be an employee benefit program. Some commercial banks offer PayDay Programs, Employee Benefit Programs, and 401K Corporate Benefit Plans. If you decided to implement one of these plans you should make sure that they are FDIC insured so that they don't lose their value over time.
Another business need that many companies look for are business money market accounts. The primary reason for companies to use money market accounts is to get a positive return on their original investment. While all commercial bankers can make you some profit, you need to look into what their current rates are and how often they fluctuate in order to get the most out of your money. However, in the end it really comes down to you and your specific business needs. Overall, knowing your business needs, doing the proper amount of research, and building a long lasting and enjoyable relationship with your commercial banker will give you a positive and profitable commercial banking experience.

วันศุกร์ที่ 24 มิถุนายน พ.ศ. 2554

Business Finance Alternative - The Merchant Cash Advance

Business finance, as many a business owner knows, can be tricky to secure with a stringent application process.
Due to the economic climate, the banks are much more reluctant to lend and tend to be much stricter when assessing applications for business finance. Even if you do get accepted for the business loan, there are usually strict monthly repayments and early repayment charges if you wanted to repay the balance early.
Bank business loans aren't the only form of finance available however. There is a business finance alternative that is quickly growing in popularity. It is known as a merchant cash advance and is available from many lenders who have a strong online presence.
Many of these lenders have built up a strong reputation for providing a flexible business finance alternative.
What makes the merchant cash advance so flexible is the fact that there are no fixed monthly repayments. The balance is repaid from an agreed percentage of your customer's future credit and debit card transactions.
If your business processes more than £3500 per month in card transactions then there is a good chance you will qualify as acceptance rates are exceptionally high.
This flexible repayment method means that if your business picks up and you start to process more card transactions then the advance will be repaid quicker than anticipated and likewise if your business is experiencing a slack period then you don't have a fixed monthly payment, like with a business loan, that may hurt your cash-flow.
Some online merchant cash advance lenders have 24 hour online tracking systems meaning you can see exactly where your advance is up to any time day or night.
I was reading about one small business who used a cash advance, and they wanted to extend their range of stock and needed about £15000. They had sourced a real bargain on a batch of great products that they knew they could turnover quickly but didn't have the funds to purchase.
They used the cash advance as a business finance alternative as their bank declined them for the loan. Apparently everything went to plan and the stock did indeed sell quickly which meant that they repaid the cash advance much quicker than anticipated.
The application process for a merchant cash advance also tends to be much simpler than a bank loan and the money is usually available within two weeks.
So if your business needs finance then don't just look at the banks. Consider all business finance alternatives including the merchant cash advance.