Business loans and finance for a business just may have gotten good again? The pursuit of credit and funding of cash flow solutions for your business often seems like an eternal challenge, even in the best of times, let alone any industry or economic crisis. Let’s dig in.

Since the 2008 financial crisis there’s been a lot of change in finance options from lenders for corporate loans. Canadian business owners and financial managers have excess from everything from peer-to-peer company loans, varied alternative finance solutions, as well of course as the traditional financing offered by Canadian chartered banks.

Those online business loans referenced above are popular and arose out of the merchant cash advance programs in the United States. Loans are based on a percentage of your annual sales, typically in the 15-20% range. The loans are certainly expensive but are viewed as easy to obtain by many small businesses, including retailers who sell on a cash or credit card basis.

Depending on your firm’s circumstances and your ability to truly understand the different choices available to firms searching for SME COMMERCIAL FINANCE options. Those small to medium sized companies ( the definition of ‘ small business ‘ certainly varies as to what is small – often defined as businesses with less than 500 employees! )

How then do we create our road map for external financing techniques and solutions? A simpler way to look at it is to categorize these different financing options under:

Debt / Loans

Asset Based Financing

Alternative Hybrid type solutions

Many top experts maintain that the alternative financing solutions currently available to your firm, in fact are on par with Canadian chartered bank financing when it comes to a full spectrum of funding. The alternative lender is typically a private commercial finance company with a niche in one of the various asset finance areas

If there is one significant trend that’s ‘ sticking ‘it’s Asset Based Finance. The ability of firms to obtain funding via assets such as accounts receivable, inventory and fixed assets with no major emphasis on balance sheet structure and profits and cash flow ( those three elements drive bank financing approval in no small measure ) is the key to success in ABL ( Asset Based Lending ).

Factoring, aka ‘ Receivable Finance ‘ is the other huge driver in trade finance in Canada. In some cases, it’s the only way for firms to be able to sell and finance clients in other geographies/countries.

The rise of ‘ online finance ‘ also can’t be diminished. Whether it’s accessing ‘ crowdfunding’ or sourcing working capital term loans, the technological pace continues at what seems a feverish pace. One only has to read a business daily such as the Globe & Mail or Financial Post to understand the challenge of small business accessing business capital.

Business owners/financial mgrs often find their company at a ‘ turning point ‘ in their history – that time when financing is needed or opportunities and risks can’t be taken. While putting or getting new equity in the business is often impossible, the reality is that the majority of businesses with SME commercial finance needs aren’t, shall we say, ‘ suited’ to this type of funding and capital raising. Business loan interest rates vary with non-traditional financing but offer more flexibility and ease of access to capital.

We’re also the first to remind clients that they should not forget govt solutions in business capital. Two of the best programs are the GovernmentSmall Business Loan Canada (maximum availability = $ 1,000,000.00) as well as the SR&ED program which allows business owners to recapture R&D capital costs. Sred credits can also be financed once they are filed.

Those latter two finance alternatives are often very well suited to business start up loans. We should not forget that asset finance, often called ‘ ABL ‘ by those Bay Street guys, can even be used as a loan to buy a business.

If you’re looking to get the right balance of liquidity and risk coupled with the flexibility to grow your business seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor with a track record of business finance success who can assist you with your funding needs.

No-one wants to have dull and lifeless skin, which is why some of us spend all kinds of money on skin care products meant to keep our skin soft and youthful. Although many of these skin care products do actually do what they’re supposed to, the reason many people are unhappy with the results they receive from their skin care product is because the unknowingly fall into many of the common misconceptions of skin care.The best way to take care of your skin is to understand what you skin needs, what it doesn’t need. Take a look at some of these more common misconceptions about skin care, see if you need to tweak your skin care routine.1. Too Much ProductMore is better right? Actually, no it isn’t. Using too much of any kind of skin product isn’t good for the skin. Using too much of an acne treatment, for instance can lead to more severe breakouts, and too much of an eye gel can irritate and burn eyes. Most skin care products absorb directly into the skin, spreading to the affected area, so you really only need a little bit. Body lotions are a little different in the sense that they’re going over the whole body, but you still don’t need a lot, just enough the cover the areas you want without leaving excess on the skin.2. Not Wearing Sun BlockThe sun’s harmful UV rays are the number one cause of wrinkles and sun spots as well as skin cancer. Forgetting to wear a sun screen with an SPF of 40 or higher protects you from sunburn, sun poisoning, wrinkles, and other complications the sun can cause. Remember to re-apply your sun block every one to two hours even if it’s waterproof, as the SPF starts to break down as soon as it touches moisture leaving you unprotected. A good pair of sunglasses is also good to have when out in the sun for a long period of time so to protect the fragile eyes from harsh rays.3. Using The First Product You SeeOne of the biggest mistakes that one can do when it comes to taking care of their skin, is just picking up the first product you see without checking its ingredients. I cannot stress enough how important it is to fully read a skin care products ingredients to see if there is any harsh chemicals. Things like Potassium Hydroxide, SLS/SLES and Parabens are considered to be some of the most common and most harmful chemicals in the skin care world. These substances are known to cause irritation to the skin, burning, inflammation and in some cases they have been linked to cancer.4. Not Being ConsistentIf you apply a wrinkle cream or a moisturizer every couple days, then don’t expect to be blown away with the results. In order for any skin care product to be effective, you must stay on top of its use. If the product says “USE EVERY MORNING AND NIGHT” do exactly that. If you want results from your product, figure out a way to work it into your daily routine of things. A basic skin care regimen should only take about five to seven minutes out of your schedule. A good method for apply any skin care product is right after a shower, as the pores are open and can more easily absorb a product, making it more effective.5. H2OWater is the one constant need other than food that all life on this planet needs. We need water to properly regulate our metabolism, give us energy and to flush the body of wastes. Drinking plenty of water everyday helps to flush out toxins, dirt, and bacteria from the skin that would otherwise cause the skin to look dull and weathered. Start drinking more water and I promise you’ll see a noticeable change in the coming weeks.So, now that you can properly identify some of the things your skin needs and doesn’t need, you should be able to effectively tweak are start your skin care routine for the healthiest and youngest looking skin around. The best things come from nature, so try and stick with all natural skin care products trust me your skin will thank you. Shield yourself from the sun as best as you can, and be as consistent as possible with your regimen. Lastly don’t forget to keep water with you at all times and drink, drink, drink, it can’t hurt. Remember these tips and you’ll be on your way to the best looking skin around.

Business capital requirements in Canada often boil down to some basic truths the business owner/financial mgr/entrepreneur needs to address when it comes to financing for businesses.

One of those truths? Knowing the true state of their financial condition and what financing they do and don’t qualify for when it comes to meeting commercial lending requirements in Canadian business.

Business Loans In Canada

Whether you are smaller or start-up firm looking for information on how to get a business loan or a larger established firm looking for growth financing or acquisition opportunities we’re highlighting 3 mistakes that commercial loan seekers like your company need to avoid making when addressing, sourcing and negotiating your cash flow / working capital and commercial financing needs.

1. Understand the true condition of your company finances – These are almost always successful addressed when you spend time on your financials and understand how your financial statements reflect your access to commercial loans & business credit in general

2. Ensure you have a plan in place for sales growth and financial needs as it relates to commercial financing

3. Understand that actual hard facts about cash flow which is, of course, the lifeblood of your company

Can you honestly answer or feel positive about all those 3 points. If so, pass Go and collect $ 100.00!

A good way to address your company’s finance plans is to ensure you understand growth finance solutions, as well as how to manage in a downturn – i.e. not growing, losing money, etc; It’s never fun to fund yourself in an economic or industry downturn such as the COVID pandemic of 2020!

When we talk to clients of new or established businesses it seems they are almost always talking about sales, so the ability to understand and focus on the differences in their profits and cash fluctuations is key.

How do cash flow and sales plans and projections affect the type of financing you require? For one thing sales growth usually starts out by consuming your cash, not generating it. A poor finance plan will drag your business down and addressing financing simply gets tougher and tougher.

Three basics always emerge when it comes to your search for the right business capital and financing.

1. The amount of financing you need

2. The type of financing (debt/cash flow/asset monetization) The business loan interest rate will be dramatically affected by whether you choose traditional or alternative financing solutions. Private business loans in Canada come from non regulated commercial finance companies most often known as ‘ alternative lenders ‘. These lenders are typically highly specialized in one ‘ niche ‘ of business financing and may be Canadian firms or branches of U.S. banks and non-bank lenders

3. How the financing is structured to be manageable with your day to day operations

What Finance Company In Canada Can Meet Your Borrowing Needs & Why Is Capital Important In Business

Let’s identify and break down key financings your firm should know about and understand if they are applicable and achievable to your business. They include:

A/R Financing / Factoring / Confidential Receivable Finance

Inventory finance / floor planning / retail inventory

Working Capital term loans

Unsecured cash flow loans

Merchant working capital loans/advances – these loans are geared toward short term cash needs and are typically one year in duration. Loan amounts are typically 15-20% of your annual sales revenues.

Royalty finance

Asset based non bank business lines of credit

Tax credit financing (SR&ED bridge loans)

Equipment Leasing / Sale leasebacks – Equipment financing in Canada is used by almost 80% of all companies looking to acquire new, and used, assets.

Govt Guaranteed Small Business Loan program – Government Loans in Canada are sometimes referred to as ‘ SBL’, aka Note: BDC Finance solutions are available from this Canadian non-bricks and morter crown corporation. A small business loan via the government-guaranteed loan program comes with true flexibility around term loan duration, market rates, no pre payment penalties, and of course the low personal guarantee that is required by borrowers. These two ‘ government ‘ loan solutions are often perfect for financing a new business.

If you’re focused on not making mistakes in your business finance needs and want to capitalize on the solutions your competitors are probably already using seek out and speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor who can assist you with your cash flow and commercial financing needs.

Stan has had a successful career with some of the world’s largest and most successful corporations.

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 ) In 2004 Stan founded 7 PARK AVENUE FINANCIAL – He is an expert in Canadian Business Financing.