Financial Strategies

A business needs a constant supply of ready cash in order to keep on functioning. It also needs funds to grow and expand. A working capital loan is the ideal solution. Whether you are looking to purchase new equipment for your business, or planning to add to your inventory, or thinking of opening new branches at new locations or remodel the existing ones, or launching advertising and promotional programs for your business, or simply in need to pay off your debts immediately, working capital loan can take care of all your financial needs easily. If you are need of some quick financing for your business needs, consider working capital loan as an excellent option.

Working capital financing available to businesses comes in two flavors. Both have their merits. So the next time you think of getting working capital financing, get ready to choose from between a working capital loan and a business cash advance. Let’s take a closer look at each.

Getting working capital financing for your business has its share of woes and worries. Most often, people tend to confuse a working capital loan with a business cash advance. However, there are important differences between the two. To start with, business cash advance is usually easier to secure than a working capital loan. This is one of the reasons why many prefer a business cash advance over a working capital loan as a quick way of getting cash to support their businesses.

Most lenders and financial bodies will take into account the credit history of the borrower, available collaterals and various other factors before putting their approval on granting a working capital loan. On the other hand, getting qualified for a business cash advance is a much simpler process. There is less paperwork involved and the money reaches the applicant in less than 72 hours. Receiving money from a working capital loan usually takes about a week.

A business cash advance is not associated with a fixed schedule for repayment. The method of repayment is linked to credit card sales receipts and therefore, it is a much more natural process. As such, businesses usually do not feel acutely pressurized over repayment issues. This, unfortunately, is not the scenario with working capital loans which are based on a fixed repayment schedule that the borrower must stick to. Failing to do so would affect the borrower’s credit score adversely and there is a chance of losing the collateral also. The bottom-line is that no matter what the volume of business for a particular month is, the working capital loan has to be repaid according to the pre-determined fixed amount.

In spite of these difficulties, a working capital loan remains a great way to provide your business the cash it needs to keep growing till such a point where all operating expenses are covered by the revenue that the business generates. Most small businesses require one to stay afloat and make to the next level of self-sufficiency. However, it is important to bear in mind the importance of maintaining good business credit scores in order to qualify for a working capital loan. With good business credit scores, you can stay assured of getting the working capital loan that you seek quickly and effortlessly.

So where should you start when you need a working capital loan? Try the Internet. There’s no dearth of very competent and reputed lenders on the Net today. All it takes is just a few clicks of your mouse to zero in on the best terms and qualify for a working capital loan for your business needs.

Most businesses which accept credit cards can obtain a business cash advance by using their future credit card processing activity. This strategy is also referred to as credit card financing and credit card receivables factoring. However, there are a number of critical business financing problems to avoid when using this strategy, and a merchant cash advance is not the only source to consider for additional working capital.

Business cash advance and credit card processing management is frequently one of the most overlooked sources of working capital for a business. This article will provide a concise and practical introduction to what a business needs to know about using this business finance strategy and how to obtain a merchant cash advance.

Businesses should not overlook the substantial working capital business loan benefits which will accrue to their business by effectively coordinating merchant cash advance and credit card processing programs. Key results from successfully coordinating these business financing services will include reduced costs and improved cash flow. Perhaps most importantly, a business cash advance based on credit card processing is one of the few viable options for reliably obtaining short-term commercial financing for many service and retail businesses.

Before we begin, there are two key points to keep in mind. First, business cash advance programs can be a source of confusion and problems, and proper anticipation of these potential difficulties is essential for a business owner considering this working capital strategy. Second, some additional descriptions for business cash advance programs are credit card receivables factoring, merchant cash advances and credit card financing.

Although this is a sound and viable strategy, there are pitfalls to anticipate and avoid. Below you will find our suggestions for simultaneously obtaining business cash advances and improving credit card processing.

Realize that the business cash advance strategy is not readily available until a business has been operational for at least one year. A further limitation is that the business must have been using credit cards as a form of payment by customers. It would be wise for new business owners to review this strategy in order to be better prepared for future business finance options needed in the future.

Determine how much additional working capital your business needs. In general a business cash advance is typically possible for amounts varying from $5000 to $300,000 and the amount will depend on the monthly credit card processing volume for a business.

Review your monthly credit card volume as well as cash receipts from your customers during the past six months. It is not unusual for a business to experience cyclical variations in their monthly receipts, and these fluctuations are generally acceptable in calculating the potential for a business cash advance.

Avoid business finance sites which request that a business owner submit an online application for a business cash advance. To illustrate the problems associated with an online business financing application, we have prepared a separate business loan report entitled How and Why to Avoid the Online Business Loan Application Trap.

An experienced business cash advance advisor should be consulted. High-pressure representatives making unrealistic promises about the speed of the credit card financing process should always be avoided. A realistic expectation is that a merchant cash advance can be finalized in a period of two to four weeks. A knowledgeable working capital financing advisor will be able to provide an initial assessment of potential working capital advance options based on information referred to above.

Explore additional resources that will facilitate a better understanding of complex credit card factoring issues. You should look for sources which will provide relevant strategies and solutions for any business owner contemplating a future business cash advance.

Complete an initial business cash advance application once you are satisfied that you have identified a suitable advisor and provider for coordinating the credit card processing and credit card receivables factoring. Please remember our advice to avoid the online versions for this step. Faxing or emailing a completed application directly to the advisor-provider is the preferred method for submitting initial documentation. Please note that there should not be any up-front fees or closing costs to obtain a working capital advance.

rticle we have identified the ten major problems which should be avoided when obtaining working capital and business cash advances based on credit card processing. As noted below, it is not necessary to accept any of these business finance difficulties.

Credit card processing and small business loan strategies are closely connected in many ways. Business owners should not overlook the substantial working capital benefits which will accrue to their business by effectively coordinating credit card factoring and processing. These benefits will increase measurably if a number of common business cash advance problems can be successfully avoided.

Even thriving small businesses frequently need more working capital than they can borrow from a bank. One of the most important commercial financing needs for any business is ensuring that short-term cash requirements are successfully met. This is frequently a difficult task.

The use of a viable business cash advance strategy has become an increasingly important business finance tool for many businesses faced with a potential short-term cash shortfall. However, as noted below there are a number of potential problems to be anticipated and avoided when businesses use credit card processing to seek working capital advances.

Most merchants have documented credit card processing activity and sales volume. This documentation of processing activity and sales volume is a financial asset, since up to $300,000 and more can typically be obtained via a business cash advance based on future sales volume.

Before employing this strategy for working capital business cash advances, businesses should realize that there are several recurring potential problems that they need to anticipate. Highlighted below are ten common credit card receivables problems to be avoided when business owners are considering this financing approach.

First, many lenders will attempt to charge closing costs. Business owners should realize that this is an unnecessary transaction cost for business cash advances when dealing with a truly reputable provider of working capital financing based on credit card factoring.

Second, many lenders for these services also charge up-front fees. This is also a transaction cost that can and should be avoided, and with the best programs there will not be any up-front fees.

Third, many programs for business cash advances have collateral requirements. For business owners seeking credit card financing, this is an unnecessary requirement and should be avoided.

Fourth, some lenders will require financial statements and tax returns for all business cash advances. Such additional documentation requirements should only be necessary for larger working capital advances.

Fifth, monthly fixed payments to repay merchant cash advances are imposed by some providers. The preferred approach is to avoid such fixed payment requirements.

Sixth, some providers impose a fixed term for repayment. This requirement to pay off the business cash advance over a fixed term should be avoided.

Seventh, many business finance programs require businesses to have at least two years of operating history to qualify for working capital business cash advances. While many business owners can meet such a requirement, a more practical standard for newer businesses is a minimum of one year in business.

Eighth, most providers of business cash advances currently require credit scores of 680 or higher. In today’s difficult economic climate, this can be a challenging requirement. It is feasible to obtain this kind of working capital financing with scores around 500.

Ninth, for merchants needing larger business cash advances, it will be disappointing to learn that many programs are limited to a maximum of $25,000 to $50,000. Providers that are better capitalized for this business finance strategy will be able to accommodate an advance of $300,000 and higher.

Tenth, many providers will require 12 to 24 months of documented credit card sales of $12,000 to $25,000 or more. A more practical possibility for business owners will involve a transaction history with six months of $5,000 or more.

It is not likely that all ten of the obstacles described above will be pertinent for all business owners. Business borrowers are likely to experience several of these problems if they are considering a business cash advance that uses credit card factoring and credit card processing.

Can all ten credit card finance obstacles discussed above be avoided? There are indeed viable credit card receivables programs which avoid all of the problems described. For any business owner considering this approach to working capital financing, it is probably worth repeating that it is not necessary to accept any of these problems in order to obtain business cash advances based on future sales.