Business Loan Options Blog

If your dream of running or expanding your own business is held back due to lack of finances or even due to a poor credit record then do not despair. There are several lenders that are willing to help you out by providing you with an alternative business loan even if you have a less-than-perfect credit record and that too with innovative repayment methods. Such a loan is also known as a merchant cash advance and you can now turn your business expansion dreams into reality and even improve your credit scores in the future.

Due to these troubled times banks have become very strict in giving out business loans to the business class. The recent past has seen several of their loans go bad as their clients have been unable to repay them. The collateral left with banks in the form of real estate has also depreciated greatly in value and banks have had no choice but to place tighter rules while providing new loans. If your credit history is not very good or if you do not have sufficient collateral to offer against your business loan then you do not stand a good chance of getting a loan through a bank. You could try credit unions but they too face similar problems due to the recent recession.

Read the rest of this entry »

Whether you have a land based business or an internet business, credit cards can affect your business in both a positive and negative manner. If your business generates 90 percent of its income from credit cards you could enter into a situation where you do not have enough cash on hand.  Credit cards take time to process.  The income from credit cards is not instant cash.  The transaction goes through the terminal to the credit card company and eventually you will be able to show the income you have made from the credit card sales as cash.  When you have employee wages, business expenses and much more having accessible cash is imperative.  Merchant cash advances are one way to ensure you have the cash you need.

Read the rest of this entry »

In recent years the merchant cash advance business has increased.  Small businesses have found the alternative to business loans is a great way to get quick cash.  Surprisingly the industry of merchant cash advances is a decade old.  In the last two years more than fifty providers have appeared.  What is even more interesting is that the regular loans businesses typically go for are becoming harder to gain, thus more businesses are turning to the cash advances.

There is a small issue with the merchant cash advance.  For ten years there has been little regulation on these businesses, which means providers can charge high interest rates without breaking the law.  Many companies in the United States will charge 30 percent or more for the cash advance they provide.  The government at the state level has begun to regulate these businesses.  Unfortunately there is little the state can do since there are no laws.  Instead the cash advance company has to self regulate.

What you need to know about merchant cash advance is whether it can work for you.  There are ways to avoid the extreme interest rate charged.  However, most often the reason you seek out the cash advance is to have a loan for a long period of time.  You must examine the cash advance contract.  The contract will explain the amount of the loan, when it is due, and the amount of the interest.  It may also show penalties such as being late, missing the payment, or paying the debt early.

Cash advance businesses offer a lump sum to your company.  You can then take this sum and use it any way you wish.  The nice thing about the merchant cash advance is less restrictions on how the money is used.  The company does not delve into your business plan, history, or even your credit scores.  The merchant cash advance businesses tend to loan to companies with bad credit, little credit, or little to no collateral unlike a bank.  By using the merchant cash advance you do have the option of paying for goods and wages, or expanding your business without having to explain in detail why you need the loan.

Now, as we said above the interest can be extremely high.  The best way to avoid heavy fees with merchant cash advance is to look for a company that has the lowest interest rates.  The interest is going to be paid whether you pay the loan early or on time. It is how much interest that will vary.  When you compare the cash advance to a regular loan you can pay 60 to 200 percent more in interest on the cash advance.

One reason for such high interest is that the cash advance is not a loan. It is a deal to lend you money for two weeks, until you have the cash to pay back the money.  There are no limits to the interest rates that can be charged since there are no laws as of yet to regulate the companies.

The best way to avoid the high interest rates is to not use the cash advance, and if you must then shop around for the company willing to give you the best rate.  Not every company charges 200 percent more than a regular loan.  Another area one must look at regarding cash advance is the length of time you have to pay back the debt.  Above it was mentioned that you might have two weeks.  Two weeks is the standard for personal cash advances. However, with businesses there is a potential to have up to 12 months to pay back the amount.  The contract is set up so that there is no exact due date or fixed payment, yet no company will allow the loan to go past a year.

The earlier you pay the debt the more you will save in interest.  The merchant cash advance company can only charge you interest on the amount you have taken out.  Once that amount has been repaid with proper interest you are no longer accruing interest.  Merchant cash advance amounts have a larger amount to be borrowed over the personal cash advance.  The reason a business can borrow more is that they have the necessary means to pay it back.

Starting a business takes a lot of preparation and emotional support from the people around you.  It is more than just securing a business loan and purchasing a product line in the hopes that people will purchase the items from you.  It is a commitment, one that can turn into a life long one.  Extroverted people are great salespeople, but even if you are introverted you can start and run your own successful business.  But before you sign any dotted lines and make sure all of your contracts are filled out to the last crossed ‘t’, you need to be aware of what you are in for when you start your own business. 

The first thing any successful business owner must have is the support of their family.  Starting a business takes up 80 to 100 hours of your time a week and there is very little time left for vacations and spending time with your loved ones.  Many entrepreneurs do make it a point to vacation with their families but they tend to also check in with their companies.  While it is hard for the family of an entrepreneur to understand the long hours you will have to put in, they will reap the benefits of your hard work in the long run.  Be prepared to sacrifice some of that family time to get your company off of the ground. 

While having money is great it is not the end all be all of a great company.  You can be wealthy by having a successful company and not have a lot of money.  The less tangible rewards of owning your own business is what it is all about.  You will have respect, independence and a sense of pride for building your company from the ground up.  It is hard work to make your business grow but money should not be the only motivation you have.  Paying off your business loans needs to mean more than just handing the money to your financier every month.  It should be a joy and not a chore. 

You have to be passionate about your business and the idea you are bringing to the world.  You will know how important it is to you because it will encompass your life.  Take that passion and infect everyone around you with it so that you can bring your dream of running your own business to life.  If others believe in you then you can make your dream a reality.  Remember though to be patient during this process.  Sometimes it can get frustrating, especially when things do not move in the direction you want or as fast as you want.  Take a step back and a deep breath and then move forward once again. 

Pragmatic business owners do better than ones that just keep banging their heads against the wall.  They know that sometimes you have to just give up on an idea and move on to something else.  Sometimes the timing of starting a new business is not right.  Instead of putting yourself thousands of dollars in debt trying to run a business that is not going anywhere, cut your losses and try it again at another time.  This does not mean you’re a failure at running a business.  This means you know when to stop when things are not right. 

While being pragmatic you also have to be willing to take a risk and starting your own business is taking a risk.  Most entrepreneurs and business owners are risk takers, and even though they know they could fail they don’t let their dreams pass them by.  You have to be willing to risk everything while working hard to make your business work.  From the start work in some protections for yourself in your business plan in case things don’t work the way you hope.  But don’t let failure stop you from trying. 

Finally, run your business as ethically as possible.  No one will work with a business that is dishonest or shady.  Be upfront and build a report up with future customers based on transparency and honesty.  You will find that customers will respect this and talk about you and your business to their friends, building more trust and a larger customer base.

As a business owner you probably developed a business plan when you first started your company.  In the plan you included what your business was about, how you were going to fund it – whether through business loans or from your own capital – who your customers were going to be and what you are providing your customers.  But sometimes it is necessary to reevaluate your business plan and update it.

When your business grows there are occasions when your business plan will need to be updated and changed.  It may not be something you immediately think of but it must be considered.  There are seven good reasons why you should update your business plan, and if any one of these reasons applies to your business you better pull out the original business plan you are working with and review it.

If your business is about to go into a new financial period, you should update your business plan.  A new financial period could happen annually, quarterly or even monthly depending on the type of business you own and the speed in the change of the market.  It’s a good idea to review your plan even if you do not update it at this time.

If you find that you need to pursue additional financing for your business – or even are looking into any type of initial loans for business – you should review your business plan to make sure it is up to date.  You will be asked by potential lenders to see your plan as it will help them make a decision about whether they want to risk giving you a loan.

If the market your business is a part of has changed drastically, you need to update your business plan.  Your customer’s tastes will change from time to time and you may need to look at the overall change in trends to see if consolidation has happened through your customers.  Additionally, regulatory changes may trigger the need to change your business plan.

If your business is working on developing a new technology, product, skill or service you need to look at your business plan.  The current plan may not cover the new things you have or are planning to add to it.  Additionally, if your business has dramatically changed in any way you should reevaluate your business plan.

Has there been a change in your management structure?  If there has you need to update your business plan to accommodate the change and to provide you current staff with new information about where you want to take your business and the goals you have in place.

Major milestones are another reason to update your business plan.  For example, if you have moved from a home office to rented space, employed a milestone employee or have crossed a certain sales mark you need to review and update your plan to include these milestones.

Finally, if your old plan simply does not reflect your business and current goals it is time to update it.  Things can change quickly and make your original plan irrelevant.  Maybe you were not sure of what you were doing when you first wrote it.  You need to sit down and look over the plan and update it to reflect your current situation.

Because business plans have a lot of common elements in them – like cash flow projections and marketing plans – you need to look at these elements first as they will be the easiest parts of the plan to change.  You will also want to review your plan to ensure that you have allotted for company growth.  You may find that the type of business plan you utilized when you first developed it may no longer work.  When this happens, you should consider a different type of business plan to try.

Keeping your business plan updated will allow you to better gauge whether or not you are meeting the goals you set forth for your company.  Many business people do not take into consideration that their business will change as it grows and never think about looking at their business plan.  Hopefully these tips will help you grow your business and you will remember to review and update your business plan on a regular basis.

When you first start working on the details of your new business you should develop a business plan that can help you set your goals and give you a roadmap to follow.  This plan should include everything, from the type of customers you are targeting with your products and services to the types of business loans you are going to pursue for financing.  How detailed your plan is will be dependent on the type of business you are going to run.

In order to develop a business plan you need to know what types of plans are available to you.  There are four types of business plans that you can utilize and they can be long or short, simple or detailed.  They all take a varying degree of effort to put together but they all work the same.  They provide you with a roadmap for your company and your goals.

The miniplan is a business plan that ranges from one to ten pages.  They are a basic outline of your business and they cover key points such as your financing needs, business concept, marketing plan and financial statement.  This last item should include at a minimum your current cash flow, your income projection and your current balance sheet.  This type of plan is best to help you test out your overall business concept and to measure the interest of a business partner or minor investor.  It is also a good outline for a much more in depth business plan that you prepare later down the line. 

However, if you use a miniplan remember that it is designed to be an outline and not a full-length business plan.  Major investors are going to want more information on the business you are proposing, which is why you must prepare a full plan before meeting with anyone you hope will invest in your company. 

The working plan, the second type of business plan, is one that is used as a tool to operating your business.  It should be a short presentation but it should also have a lot of detail in it.  This plan is informal compared to a full plan and it is designed solely for internal business use.  You would not want to present this to an investor because many major elements that they would be interested in are omitted from this plan.  You do not need appendices or photos with this type of plan. 

How the plan is finished is also something that is not a major concern with a working business plan.  You can keep this plan in a three ring binder with coffee stains on the sheets if you want to.  You should make sure that your financial statements in this plan are complete but you do not have to worry about whether or not numbers are scratched out and handwritten in.   

The presentation plan is a working plan that has had all of the typos corrected and has been dressed up to show someone outside the company.  You can use the presentation plan for investors and bankers who may be interested in financing your company.  All of the information in this plan is the same as that of the working plan.  You simply need to clean up the language and the way it is packaged to make it appealing to outsiders. 

You will need to add a few things to your presentation plan.  Investors will be looking for competition information and a risk assessment.  These plans should also have included in them color graphs and photos that are pertinent to the information you are presenting.  All of your typos should be fixed up and all of your information – especially your financial numbers – should be accurate and consistent.  You do not want to skimp on these details because they are the ones your investors will be looking at. 

Finally, the electronic plan is the business plan most companies use.  They are composed on the computer and then printed off on high quality paper with color prints for hard copy presentation.  However, an electronic plan makes it easy for you to transfer the document to an interested party across the country.  You will be able to e-mail this plan to investors as well as use it in computer presentations for investors who have the need to tear apart your spreadsheets. 
 
 

A business plan is a must for just about every business.  It is the basis of your businesses goals and plans, and it will help you keep to the task at hand when you build your business from the ground up.  A business plan is basically a written description of your business and its future, and if you plan on securing business loans to help you get off the ground you may need to furnish this plan in order to convince lenders you are worth the risk.  While there are considerably more elements involved you could basically write a paragraph down on the back of a napkin in McDonald’s and have the very start of your business plan. 

A business plan can help everyone involved in your business and it can be used to give people tasks that need to be accomplished towards getting your business launched.  As mentioned they can be used to procure business loans but they can also be used to help attract key employees for your company, prospects for additional business, supplier contracts or a way for other businesses to understand how you manage your company.  It really is an important document that will be used from the very day your business doors open to the day they close – hopefully many years down the line. 

In order to develop a business plan you need to know what they contain and how to put one together.  Business plans should contain your goals for your company, what you will do to reach those goals, problems that your company may face and how you intend to deal with the problems, the organizational structure of your company with titles and the associated responsibilities of each and how much capital is going to be needed to keep your company going until it is functioning in the black on a consistent basis. 

With these items in mind you want to include in your business plan the following three parts which are standard in all business plans:

The business concept – this is the first part of your business plan and it will talk about the industry market you will be entering with your business, how your business will be structured, what you will be selling or the service you are offering, and how you intend to make your business successful.

The marketplace section – in the second section of your business plan you will need to discuss who your potential customers are, why they buy the things they do, who your competition will be and the strategies you plan to put in place to help you win the customers over your competition.

The financial section – the last part of your business will include your income information including your cash flow statement, balance sheet, and other income related topics including analysis of when you will break even.  If you have an accountant they can help you with the information you will need.

Once you have the information for the three main sections of your business plan it can then be broken down in the following components for easier layout: executive summary; business description; market strategies; competitive analyses; design and development plan; operations and management plan; and financial factors.  The whole plan should be finalized with a cover, title page, and table of contents for a professional presentation.  Remember you are giving these to potential clients, partners, and financiers. 

You are probably wondering how long this plan is going to be considering the amount of information you need to cover.  Between fifteen and twenty pages is how long the standard business plan runs but it can be as long and as detailed as you want or as brief and vague as you want.  It is all going to depend on the type of business you are proposing.  If the business is new, you may have a longer plan that most because of the complex details you are conveying about your business.

The length will really be determined on how you intend to use the plan.  If it is a business development tool that will be distributed to outsiders then you may need to make it detailed.  If it is going to simply be used in house for managing your business then a shorter version is acceptable.

Your business is off the ground and you are able to pay on your business loans without your profit margin going into the red.  What’s next on your agenda to keeping your company going?  Training should be the answer to that question.  Training is something that most small businesses don’t usually consider and that is because there are a few myths that go along with it that may be steering you in the wrong direction. 

Training sessions tend to be tedious and boring but it really is an important part of any business.  This is the department that takes care of updating you on the newest office policies, how to use a new computer program in conjunction with IT and even training new employees in their jobs.  If you do it right, your training department could be a secret weapon you can unleash on your competitors.  But before you can do that, we need to dispel some myths about training that you may have heard and may believe. 

Myth #1: If I hire people who know their job, I don’t have to train them.
If you are a small business with only a few employees, you don’t need to train a quality employee.  But as you grow and your daily operations change, training is going to be essential.  You are going to have to admit that not everyone in your company will understand your practices, and in order to provide the best customer service possible your employees have to know how you want them treated. 

Myth #2: My highly trained workers will go to my competitors.
So?  Let them go.  But you will probably find that if you put together a good, comprehensive training program for your business that your retention rate is going to go up.  Training is actually considered a retention tool. 

Myth #3: It’s too expensive.
Not when you consider training to be an investment in your company.  Training your employees will reduce errors that can cost your thousands of dollars, it will help promote productivity, and your customers will remain loyal to you.  They will be able to serve your customers the way they need to with the right training. 

Myth #4: I’ll add training to my business later when I get a chance.
This really is a lame excuse.  If you start thinking about how you are going to train your employees from the day your business doors open and develop a plan then you will be able to have a comprehensive program in place right off the bat.  This is something that is going to pay off in the future, so investing in it now makes sense. 

Myth #5: On the job training is enough.
No it is not.  On the job training is great to train your employees how to use specific computer programs and the phone system.  But when it comes to in depth training that prepares your employees for everything they are going to face in their new job, you really need to combine the training with on the job and classroom exercises.  This will help them feel more at ease with the tasks they have been assigned and they will ease into the job much easier. 

Myth #6: I use a mentoring program instead of a training program.
No, you use on the job training.  A mentoring program is basically one employee teaching – or ‘mentoring’ – another in their job, and once the training is done the employee is left to sink or swim.  This is when the old employee is paired up with the new employee and basically told to follow along.  Unless your business is that repetitive, you need a good training program in place to help your employees. 

Training can be done in a variety of different ways to make it interesting and appealing.  You can use a combination of videos, PowerPoint presentations and audio tracks to help your employees learn everything they need to know about your business.  Plus, your new employees may know of a few tricks of their own that they may want to share with you.  Encourage open communications with your employees and utilize their talents to help expand your training program.  If you do, your competitors won’t know what hit them.

So you have an idea for a business that you would like to start.  What is stopping you?  Are you worried that you won’t be able to secure the necessary loans for business you require?  Are you afraid that no one will buy your products?  Don’t panic yet.  There are seven things you need to start your own business and here we are going to tell you what they are. 

Research the market you are interested in.
Before you can start your business you need to know what is going on in your potential market.  You want to make sure the market is not saturated with businesses similar to yours.  You want to find a good niche where products are needed and be able to define who your perfect customers are going to be.  These are things you need to research before you launch your business.  If you do not know who you customers are and what they want, you could easily find yourself running a business that doesn’t sell a thing. 

Know where your capital is coming from.
You need money to start a business.  You will need to determine whether or not you have enough to launch your business or if you will need to get a business loan.  If you think you are going to need investors or financing, put together a business plan and practice your sales pitch.  You will need to know how much your business is going to cost to run and how much money you need before looking for financing. 

Put a good attorney on retainer.
An attorney is one of a business’s best friends.  They will be able to guide you in drafting contracts, making sure you have a good rental agreement for your place of business, help you with licenses and regulations, and more.  They need to understand what you are planning for your business, what your goals are, and what issues you may be facing in the future. 

Hire a good accountant.
Your accountant will work with your lawyer and help you on deciding what kind of business you should run in addition to taking care of all of your financial records.  Accountants are also aware of the current tax regulations and can help you with the details of state law and tax issues.  They will be able to guide you with all of your startup needs and stick with you as your business grows. 

Determine the best business structure for your business.
Do you want to be the sole owner?  What about a limited liability company?  There are many different types of business structures you can choose from which is why a lawyer and an accountant come in handy from the start.  Each type of business has its own paperwork, tax regulations, personal liability issues and legal structures.  Use the one that will work the best for you. 

Decide on a name for your business.
Your company name is your public face and it should reflect what your company is all about.  List all of the potential names that you may want to use and then narrow this list down to the one that describes your company the best while still being catchy.  It should be easy to pronounce and remember as well as easy to spell.  If you are planning on adding a website to your business, think of how this name will transfer to a domain name.  You will need to make sure there is no business with the name you choose as well as no one with a similar domain name. 

Research and put into place all of the necessary licenses and permits your business needs.
Once again your accountant and lawyer will be able to assist you.  You will need a business license as a minimum, but depending on what products you are selling or services you offer you may need additional documents.  Check into any zoning laws that may affect where your business resides and don’t forget to check out state and local regulations in addition to any federal ones that may affect you. 

Once you address these issues you will be well on your way to launching your new business.  From here you will need to consider technical aspects of running your business as well as the day to day activities.

Advertising is an essential part of your business no matter what you are offering your customers.  It doesn’t matter if you sell merchant cash advances or specialty toilet paper; you need to make sure people know what you are offering them.  Even during an economic slump you should always make sure that you have your advertising intact.  Never cut your advertising budget.  You need it to sell your product.  Instead, look for ways of attracting new customers that cost you absolutely nothing.  Here are a few suggestions to help you keep your advertising intact without killing your entire businesses budget. 

Become the expert in your business.
This is actually easier that you think.  You can write and submit articles about your business to local newspapers, professional organization newsletters and even trade journals.  Pick a subject that shows your expertise on the subject that is related to your business and mention your company in the article.  You can host columns on the internet on related websites.  If you get your article published, make copies and give them to your customers and potential customers. 

Learn how to be a good public speaker.
Meeting planners are looking for people to speak at workshops and conferences all the time.  Contact your local Chamber of Commerce or Rotary Club for the names of planners or research them in your local yellow pages.  Call around to a few planners and offer your services to them.  If you are tapped to give a speech, collect business cards to increase your network and offer a prize drawing of something related to your business. 

Teach others.
Consider teaching an adult education class about your business, especially if you are a service related business.  Many schools and community colleges teach adult education classes and they may be interested in hiring your services to teach a class.  You can also teach free classes at your library, senior citizens center, or other places where you can arrange a medium to large gathering. 

Offer rewards for any referrals you get.
Your customers are the biggest source of advertising you have and they will talk about your business to their friends and associates.  Offer them a reward for referring a friend, such as a free item from your product line or a free service.  If you use a catalog, add a referral card to it.  Whenever you get a new customer from a referral, send the source a thank you note with the reward they earned. 

Write you own e-zine.
You want to keep in touch with your customers at all times so consider sending out a newsletter or e-zine.  Get permission from your customers to send them this information and ask them about what they would like to see in it.  Keep the newsletter simple with a few photos and graphics and make it engaging. 

Look for free public relation opportunities.
If there is going to be a major event in your business niche, send out a press release about your company to the organizer and contact your local newspapers and television stations about it.  These organizations will want to hear about it and they may be interested in talking to you about how these events affect your business. 

Give back to the community.
You can donate or sponsor an event in your community, such as a local softball team or fundraiser.  Let the media know about your participation so that you are mentioned as an event participant. 

Start your own blog or join an industry forum.
If you have a website that you want traffic to come to, start your own blog or join a forum where you can engage your customers in a one on one conversation.  Post news about your company, promotional messages or interesting information about the products and services you offer.  You want to do this without seeming like you are actually advertising.  This is discouraged.  If you want to advertise, there are forums for this so look for those as well. 

Partner with a local organization.
Do you sell or offer services that families in your community can use?  Consider contacting your local PTA and offer special shopping nights or services that they may be interested in.  Any proceeds you receive you can then take a percentage of and donate back to the school