Small Business Funding Alternatives

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HOW DID YOU LEARN ABOUT ALL THE DIFFERENT FUNDING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO PEOPLE EVEN AFTER BANKS TURN THEM DOWN FOR A LOAN?
 
Through hours of study and a training course with the American Cash Flow Association as well as working with a Mentor for the first two years. 

And, it’s been interesting for me to learn that MBA graduates and students and others in the financial services realm you would think would be very knowledgeable about the options available in the cash flow industry for the funding needs of small businesses are not aware of these tools at all (or very little).  Or, they do not give enough import to these options (if they are aware of them) which are so desperately needed by small businesses.  The tools of the cash flow industry seem to be glossed over and not really acknowledged as the option they are. 

For instance, I met with an MBA student (Electrical engineer) who was in her last semester before getting her MBA and she happened to have a class on our funding options that semester and a homework assignment on them the same weekend we met and talked.  So, she told me, “thank you very much!” and took my literature and flyers I brought to our meeting and used to complete her homework assignment!
 
WHO ARE YOUR CLIENTS?

Almost any business that has a piece of paper to leverage.  Construction is sometimes difficult because of retainage fees but it can be done too – by companies that specialize in construction. 

Some examples, though, are:

Medical facilities of all sorts
Manufacturing
Service industries of all types – staffing agencies, trucking, fabricating, engineering, printing, import, export and the list goes on and on…
  
IN YOUR YEARS OF EXPERIENCE, WHAT OBSERVATIONS CAN YOU MAKE ABOUT SMALL BUSINESSES ON THE THRESHOLD OF GROWTH?

I would say that I have observed that oftentimes they are afraid to go for the larger clients and faster growth because of fear of the resultant cash flow issues.  But – that need not be the case! 

Now, the small business owner can do just that and know that the tools offered in the cash flow industry can assist them in accomplishing faster, more rapid growth!  It all goes back to educating and making people “aware” of the options available to them. 

But this, too, is one of the many reasons I love this business I have found!  I like being able to help people and when I can do that and myself in the process, I call that a win/win situation!

WHAT IS THE CASH FLOW INDUSTRY ALL ABOUT AND HOW CAN IT HELP?
 
In a nutshell, it’s about leveraging a businesses “liquid” assets to  self-finance it’s own growth and expansion without incurring debt or giving up equity in the business.  It looks good on the balance sheet  because it is not a “loan” per se but a “sale” of a liquid asset of the business.

The asset-based lending industry is what I call a close cousin to the cash flow industry in that it is more often an actual loan with liquid assets as collateral.
 
WHAT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PIECE OF ADVICE YOU WOULD LIKE TO GIVE OUR LISTENERS? 
 
Well, at the risk of sounding like I’m promoting myself –  but I think if your listeners agree about cash flow being such an important issue for small business owners – my most important piece of advice would be…..
 
If you have cash flow issues and your traditional funding sources haven’t  been able to help, check with a cash flow consultant — whether that be me or some other cash flow consultant. 

And, I don’t say a funding company that does the actual funding (for example, factoring of accounts receivable), but a “cash flow consultant”, in particular, because there are soooooo many different funding niches/sources in the cash flow industry that a business owner can get lost in it  as easily as in the traditional funding arena.  The cash flow industry  is very, very niche  oriented and that is where a cash flow consultant’s expertise comes into  play — to assess the business owners needs and direct them to the  appropriate funder and save them time and effort and let them do what they  do best…..run their business without worrying about cash flow issues!

So, whether it be me or some other cash flow professional, be sure to check out the funding tools in our industry to supplement the fulfillment of your funding and cash flow needs!
 

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The number one reason for business failure in the U.S. today is lack of working capital!

     Businesses need money to grow. A business cannot survive just because it has a better product, an exclusive market or the best method of distribution. The catalyst required for progress is money!

     But where does a business go when the banks say no?

 

Asset-Based Lending - What Is It and How Can It Help?

Asset-based lenders play a vital part in financing the economy and are dedicated to the growth and well-being of their clients. They provide their clients with cash by lending on fixed assets, accounts receivable and inventory, and engage in factoring, purchase order financing, real estate financing and leasing. They include the asset-based lending arms of domestic and foreign commercial banks, small and large independent finance companies, factoring organizations and financing subsidiaries of major industrial corporations.

The increased cash availability provided by asset-based lenders often makes the difference between profitable growth and failure for the undercapitalized business. The flexibility and cash flow availability they provide have enabled countless companies to grow and take advantage of market opportunities.

Asset-based lenders most often advance funds when traditional sources are not available. They are familiar with various types of businesses and are responsive to the individual client needs. Whereas, traditional sources, such as banks, usually have a one-size-fits-all attitude.

The phrases, “too small,” “too new,” and “not enough net worth,” do not deter asset-based funders. These lenders are “proactive” rather than “reactive” and can often help with creative structuring of deals to accomplish the goals and needs of their clients.

These lenders - large and small alike - possess the experience and know-how to structure the proper financing program for their borrowers and specialize in financing business transactions covering a broad range of products and services, both domestically and internationally. They understand the ins and outs of the specific industry they deal with. They have made a point of learning the industry and they have also made a point of thinking “outside the box” to accommodate the industry’s special needs.

Asset-based lending has always been available to “big business” but is just recently becoming utilized by small business. The business world has begun to realize that the total of “small business” is larger than “big business” and is beginning to work hard to make small business aware of these funding options.

Russell Handley, owner of Test Communications Group in Newburgh, NY installs cable lines for large cable companies. In his industry, it is standard for these firms to take as long as 90 days to pay bills. So Handley uses factoring (only one of the numerous types of asset-based lending - which is the sale of accounts receivable) on occasion and getting money quickly for his invoices allows him to take on more work. In fact, he credits factoring with having helped him increase his annual revenue from $500,000 seven years ago to nearly $4 million today. “We wouldn’t have grown as fast as we did without it,” he says.

(Pofeldt, Elaine. “Raising Capital.” Success May 1999.)

Phillip Brach, owner of World Trade Knitting Mills in Brooklyn, NY says, “When you call with a question, you don’t have to wait days and weeks for answers from the president and vice president,” he says. He also credits factoring with allowing him to increase his production and sale by about 25 percent in two years. (Pofeldt, Elaine. “Raising Capital.” Success May 1999.)

Some banks are actually beginning to send clients they reject to asset-based lenders. They have decided it is in their best interest to refer their business to someone who can help the client. Then, when the client grows to the point where he is bankable, they feel he will be inclined to stay with them and borrow from them.

The cost is influenced by the credit risk and collateral associated with the transaction. Again, no one-size-fits-all concept or mindset!

When evaluating an asset-based loan, borrowers should consider the cost of financing in the context of the benefits to be received rather than on the stand-alone basis. Compared with other financing alternatives, asset-based lending is very cost effective and efficient and is there “when” you need it to take advantage of profit opportunities in the market. Asset-based lenders are also responsive to the urgency of a businesses cash needs.

Some of the options available through asset-based lending are:

Accounts Receivable Factoring

Bankruptcy-Reorganization

Construction Funding

Credit Card Receipt Advances

Expansion Financing

Equipment Financing

Franchise Financing

Import and Export

Inventory Loans

Equipment Leasing

Purchase Order Financing

Real Estate Financing

Secured Credit Line

Unsecured Credit Line

Venture Capital

Royalty Funding

Debra Maples is a certified cash flow consultant who counsels companies and sometimes individuals on turning virtually every type of cash flow, income stream, debt instrument, or private paper asset into cash.

Debra’s specialties include:

• Solving cash flow problems with financing techniques banks don’t offer.

• Accounts Receivable factoring; Purchase Order and Contract Funding

• Business Note financing.

Debra is available to assist you with the structuring, purchase, or sale of real estate notes and any other negotiable paper instrument. She can be reached at (225) 247-4370. For additional information, see Debra’s website at www.yourcashflowconnection.com

 

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Tags: cash flow, growth money, small business funding alternatives, working capital

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