Business Cash Advance
Whatever your reason for needing a cash influx for your business, there are a variety of methods you can use to find or create extra working capital that will allow you to achieve your business goals. Of course, the method you use will depend on many different factors, including the type of business you own, your business credit and length of operation, and the time frame in which you will need to have the funds available.
One of the first things many business owners look to for extra funds is internal resources. This will entail taking a close look at your working capital, which may include more than you think. As a base definition, working capital is a number that represents your day-to-day operating liquidity. In other words, it is a number that represents how much cash you should be able to come up with by converting some of your immediate assets, and balancing them against your accounts payable - which is the money you owe to other individuals and creditors.
For most businesses, working capital includes fixed assets, which are the physical portions of your business. This may encompass a plant or other building structure, your business equipment, any office equipment, and your inventory, or the products your business offers for sale. It goes without saying that if you are a service business, your fixed assets are limited to the equipment owned by your company. Sometimes, you may be able to liquidate part of your inventory or even some of the equipment that is not necessary to your business in order to gain more working capital.
Another aspect of a company's working capital is accounts receivable. Simply put, accounts receivables are the people who owe you money - customers, other businesses, or a combination of both. Calling in your accounts receivables is sometimes a viable method of getting more working capital in a short time, though it can be hard if your accounts are not able to pay immediately, and in those cases you may have to waste more time with collection agencies or court settlements.
If you have a positive overall working capital figure for your business, it can be useful in obtaining a business cash advance through other methods. This means you will not have to go after your receivable accounts, and can instead borrow money based on the amounts that are owed to you.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
Before you begin a search for financing options for your business, you should make sure that it's necessary to borrow money. This means making a thorough accounting of your company's working capital, and ensuring that there is no way to come up with the funds from an internal source. After all, no matter what type of business cash advance or loan you choose to apply for, you will end up paying interest on that amount. It is better if you can avoid paying interest by borrowing from yourself instead.
However, if your company does not have liquid assets, either due to a business slump or the nature of your business (for example, a company that provides services rather than products), you should investigate methods of raising working capital and decide which method is right for you. It is important to make sure you have the ability to pay back any small business loan or business cash advance you receive, so that you can keep your business credit in good shape.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
As with any lending of money, one of the first things financial institutions will look for when you apply for a loan or an advance is your credit record. Fortunately for most small business owners, your personal credit and your business credit are reviewed separately. Also, in many cases more leeway is given to business credit records, because running a business is different than managing your personal finances, and some setbacks are to be expected - especially during the startup phase.
There is more good news for you as a business owner. Some types of business cash advances do not base their lending decisions on your credit record, either business or personal. Often, the tradeoff for this type of advance is slightly higher interest rates, but for a business owner with a cash shortage and the ability to repay the loan quickly, this can be a very viable option. Again, you should evaluate your business needs before you decide which type of loan or advance to pursue for working capital.
Just like with determining working capital, the type of business you own has a lot to do with the type of financing you should seek. Businesses that sell products are often more viable for a cash loan, because there is a stronger guarantee that the money will be made back. However, businesses with solid equipment inventories and a healthy list of accounts receivable can also become easily eligible to borrow working capital against their assets.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
There are two basic types of methods for getting working capital for your business: loans and advances. Each of these types can be further subdivided. Business loans include small business loans, personal loans, lines of credit, and second mortgages. Advances include business cash advances and accounts receivable financing.
The first choice for many small business owners who need a healthy dose of working capital, but are not in an emergency situation, is the small business loan. These types of loans are available through most major financial institutions, such as banks and credit unions. However, small business loans often have stringent guidelines for qualifying, and may not be an option for many business owners. Personal loans and second mortgages can supply some working capital, if you are willing to put up your own property as collateral for the loan.
Advances, including business cash advances and accounts receivable financing, are different from loans. They can be applied for quickly, often do not require a good credit rating, and can be approved in as little as 24 hours. Business cash advances allow a company to borrow money based on future sales, while accounts receivable financing is a practice that allows businesses to sell their accounts receivable to other companies at a reduced amount.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
As previously mentioned, small business loans are often the first source business owners think of when looking into expanding their working capital. Small business loans are a primary source for startup funding, and they are also often used for remodeling, expansion, and other projects that require a lot of cash. One helpful organization that can assist you in navigating the small business loan process is the Small Business Administration (SBA), which is a Federal program for small business owners.
The rules for small business loans do vary between institutions, but the basics are generally the same. When you apply for a small business loan, in addition to a good credit record, you will need specific paperwork to accompany your application. It is a good idea to prepare your documents beforehand, so you are ready to present them to the loan officer during your visit or conversation.
The first thing you will need is a business plan. There are several components to a good business plan, and with a little bit of research, you can find a good template to use for the plan. Some of these components are the introduction, a description of the services or products you offer, a section on your competition, and perhaps most important, your cash flow projections. Cash flow projections for a small business loan usually take the form of a worksheet, and explain where you expect your future profits to come from and how much you expect to make in total through your business.
Other things you will need to apply for a small business loan include a statement of personal finances, which details all the assets and current cash you are able to contribute to your company. If you are applying for working capital for a business that is already in operation, rather than a startup loan, you may also need copies of your past business tax returns to demonstrate your financial solvency, and a credit report rating, which is available for free from any of the three major credit reporting bureaus.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
If you do not have a sufficient business plan, or your credit is not quite good enough for a small business loan, there are other types of loans you can try if you are not in a hurry for the cash - with the advantage, again, being slightly lower interest rates. If you own the property and structures in which you run your business, a second mortgage may be a possibility for you. This type of loan works just like second mortgages for homeowners, where you can receive money based on the amount you have already paid into the loan.
You may also be eligible for a personal loan, which often carries more relaxed standards than small business loans. However, you should be aware that most personal loans do not offer large sums, so if you need tens of thousands for a remodeling or expansion, a personal loan may not cover your needs. Another option is a line of credit, either through a bank or through a company from whom you want to purchase inventory, supplies, or services.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
Perhaps accounts receivables financing sounds like a confusing term, and when you hear that it is also referred to as "invoice factoring," understanding the process may not be any easier. However, the basics behind accounts receivables financing are pretty easy to understand. You can sell your accounts receivable, or invoices, to another company and get immediate funds for working capital.
Businesses that buy accounts receivable are called factor companies. In general, they will pay you anywhere from 70 to 90 percent of the total invoices you offer to them, and then collect the full amount owed on the invoice directly from the customers or businesses who owed you the funds. Many factor companies are actually collection agencies who will collect money from delinquent accounts, and profit from the excess funds over what they paid you for the accounts.
If you use assets receivables financing to raise money for your business, be sure to consider your customers in the equation. You will want to ensure that your customers have good credit ratings and are able to pay the amount owed. Factoring companies who deal with assets receivables financing will hold your business responsible for customers that do not or are unable to pay their outstanding invoices.
The advantages to using assets receivables financing are that you will receive immediate cash, and that it is not actually a loan, since the money belongs to you in the first place. Therefore, you will not have to pay interest or make repayments. As long as your customers' creditworthiness is solid, this can be a viable method to raise working capital for your business.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
Have you ever heard of payday loans? A business cash advance is similar to a payday loan, in that you borrow against expected income for your business and the repayment period is much shorter than the average loan. There are many companies offering business cash advances for businesses in need of fast cash, and the higher interest rate is in place to allow these companies to advance money to businesses that might not qualify for traditional loans.
Just like any other financial lending operation, it is important to verify the credentials of a company offering business cash advances. If you have regular, steady sales to many customers and the ability to repay any borrowed amount quickly, a business cash advance may be just the solution you need for short term working capital problems. As with accounts receivables financing, you do not need perfect credit, and you will be able to get the funds quickly. Many business cash advance companies advertise approval and cash delivery in as short as 72 hours.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439
Once you are familiar with the types of small business loans, other loans, and business cash advances available, you should determine which type will best suit the needs of your company. Do you need a relatively small infusion of cash quickly, or will you need a large amount of money that is not required immediately? Will you be able to repay the advance in a short period of time, or will you need time to build up your business profits, and therefore smaller payments? Whichever method you choose, it is possible to get additional working capital for your business, so you can expand, grow, and improve.
For Business Cash Advance Call 800-743-9439