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Guides & Articles on Business Loans
Angel Investors
Angels are critical to helping entrepreneurs start and grow companies
Angel investors are typically high net worth individuals and "cashed out" entrepreneurs who are interested in mentoring other entrepreneurs and sometimes get actively engaged in the businesses they back. Angels pump an estimated $25 billion into tens of thousands of startups annually. In the past, angels have typically operated solo. But in a new trend, angels are forming groups...
Applying for a Business Loan from a Bank
What banks need to see before they'll hand over the dough
Every business needs available funds to operate, whether you're paying for raw materials or expanding into new markets, but banks and other financial institutions won't just hand over money because you smile nice. You need to show the bank that your business is well-run and well use the funds to achieve your goals. By preparing yourself properly, you can: Show the bank how the...
Calculating Your Working Capital Needs
Inventory, payables and receivables must be planned
Having the cash on hand to operate and be competitive is critical to your success as a small business. So it's critical to anticipate your need for working capital, which is the money used in your business as part of its normal operations. This consists of income minus costs, including inventory, payables and receivables, and insurance. Estimate the amount of working capital you...
Commercial Leasing
Save money through business equipment leasing rather than purchasing capital equipment
Starting and growing a small business means more than finding a property and sticking an “Open” sign in the window; it also means buying or leasing equipment for your business. A commercial lease on capital equipment can be a lifesaver for startup and small businesses. Business equipment leasing can reduce your initial costs for acquisitions and can increase your cash...
Commercial Mortgage Brokers
Get ready to face a dizzying array of choices
If you're looking to finance your company's new home, you face a wide variety of commercial mortgage options. Decisions include how much you'll need to finance, whether you want a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate loan, and whether to stretch the loan for as little as three or as long as 25 years. A commercial mortgage broker can help you navigate this complex process. A...
Commercial Mortgage Financing
Understanding how LTV and DSCR determine how much you can borrow.
The LTV is very important in determining the amount of capital that can be obtained to finance a given property. LTV relates the principle portion of a mortgage to the appraised value of a property. This LTV is very similar to collateral discounting as it serves to protect the lender's debt stake in the property. LTV = Amount of Loan / Value of PropertyThe lender...
Commercial Mortgage Lenders
Tips and strategies to land the best deals on commercial real estate loans
If you want to buy or expand an office complex, warehouse or retail building, you need a commercial mortgage. Commercial loan rates can vary considerably based on the amount, duration and type of loan as well as on the lender. That's why it's so important to choose the right commercial mortgage lender. Doing so can help you: Secure financing to buy or expand your...
Documentary Film Funding and Grants
How to find documentary funding and then get it
No matter how brilliant a filmmaker or clever a subject matter, a documentary cannot be made without the means to do so. Documentary film funding does exist, and it may take as much time, effort and talent to secure funding for documentaries as it does to complete the film. When trying to find funding sources for documentary films, it is extremely important to...
Equipment Leasing End of Lease Buyout Provisions
Negotiate End of Lease Buyout Provisions At the Beginning of the Lease
Did you just glance over that last equipment lease you signed? Think you have a handle on your end of lease responsibilities? BUYER BEWARE! The devil IS in the details! Were you aware that there are at least three or four ways to determine the value of your equipment at the end of a lease? Believe me, very few of them are designed to be fair to...
Finance Fundamentals
A few easy steps can help you better track your business' health
You don't need to be a financial wizard to run a small business, but you do need to keep track of some basic financial functions. Starting from the day you begin preparing to open your business, set up a simple spreadsheet, either manually or with a software program, that will track: How much money you are spending on your business Who is receiving the money How much you are...
Financial Services
Get on the road to financial security using the right financial services
You get to the end of the money before the end of the month, and there will be trouble. Smart use of financial services -- money management, credit cards, insurance and banking -- can make a difference. Financial services is a catch-all term for any kind money management product, each with its own end. Credit cards have their uses, but proper banking, decent insurance and other...
Financing Your Business
Discover sources for capital funding to get your startup off the ground
Your business success depends on your ability to secure adequate financing. Being under funded is one of the most common reasons a start-up venture fails. Knowing where to look for funding is the first step to accessing capital; being prepared to convince investors to fund your business is the next. Before starting your search, consider: How much money you need. How you'll...
Finding Venture Capital
Online matchmaking services can help you find venture capital funding
If you're seeking venture capital (VC) to help launch or accelerate a business, first understand a little about who venture capitalists are – and are not. There are many widespread misconceptions. Venture capital is money put up by professional venture capital firms that invest alongside management in young, rapidly growing companies that have the potential to develop...
Franchise Purchase Costs
Where to find details on franchise buy-in fees and expenses
The cost of buying a franchised small business is hard to pinpoint. Nearly all 2,500 franchises operating today have different fees and expenses. Initial fees alone range from a few thousand dollars to millions. The good news is that franchises, with their wide range of price points, offer abundant opportunities at all levels. The initial fee can range from around $5,000 for some...
General Commercial Lenders
Need help financing your growth strategies? Investigate commercial loans
Commercial loans can come to the rescue when you need cash, whether it’s to develop a new product, to purchase equipment or to refinance an existing loan. And chances are you can find general commercial lenders who will be happy to help fund your growth plans. But before you investigate general commercial lending, learn the practices and lingo of the general lending trade....
Internal Sources of Capital
Tap non-bank sources for credit to keep your small business afloat
For many entrepreneurs, particularly those just starting out, raising money can seem like an insurmountable challenge. Companies with little to no track record can find it extremely difficult to secure a bank loan. But don't let that deter you. In fact, asking your local banker to lend you money may not be the wisest decision when there are other ways for a small business to...
Knowledge Management Software
How to find an information sharing and organization solution that works for you
An estimated $73 billion will be spent on knowledge management software by U.S. businesses in this year alone, according to strategic advisory firm AMR Research. These companies know how vitally important it is that they are able to collect, store, organize, and disseminate vital business information, whether in the service of internal brainstorming, collaboration, or operational...
Landing a Venture Capital Deal
Get your business plan and your management in order
After a big boom and bust, venture capital funding is on the rise again. But today's VC investors want more solid information from the companies they choose to invest in than in the frenzied days of the Internet bubble. And remember that VC firms typically look to cash out in three to five years, particularly by seeing your company acquired or going public. Follow these...
Lease Financing for Small Business
Lease financing gives small businesses a boost in acquiring equipment
Need to equip your start-up business with office machines, furniture, vehicles or computer equipment? Business equipment leasing can spare you the burden of debt that comes with traditional purchases and loans. In addition, lease financing can offer attractive payment options structured to help start-ups make it through those tough first years in business. Even better, equipment...
Making Your Best Case to Investors
Get the funding you need to take your company to the next level.
Raising venture capital funding can give you the edge to be a major player. But with so many companies scrambling to grab the ears of investors, what's the best way to make your business stand out? Consider these points when presenting your company: Have a solid business plan. A plan should cover what problem your business solves, who are the customers, the management team...
Negotiating An Equipment Lease
Traps To Avoid When Negotiating An Equipment Lease (An Insider's Perspective)
We all know the saying, "If a deal is too good to be true, it probably is." Having 7 years of experience in the equipment leasing business, those that negotiate equipment leases (that's YOU if you own your own company or have any financial title such as Controller, Treasurer or CFO) think this maxim should be ignored. Here's the bottom line: If you follow my tips...
Private Equity Firms
How private equity firms operate...
Private equity firms invest in non-public companies and typically hold their investments with the intent of realizing a return within 3 to 7 years. Generally, investments are realized through an initial public offering, sale, merger, or recapitalization.Private equity groups tend to focus on more mature businesses, often contributing both equity and debt (or some hybrid) to the...
Private Equity Offerings
Raising capital can be a CEO's biggest challenge
Well after you've tapped out the credit cards to get started and become a profitable company — but long before visions of IPOs should begin dancing in your head — you're likely to need a serious infusion of funds to get your company to the next level. It's in this post-bootstrapping phase that private equity begins to sound like a good idea. Strictly...
Raising Venture Capital
Managing the first meeting to make sure you get a second
You’re working hard to build your business -- hiring talented employees, securing satisfied customers and effectively managing operations. It is now time to bring in a financial partner. With some presentation planning and the correct approach, you can increase the odds of attracting a firm that will help you to recognize opportunity and navigate obstacles -- while...
Your Next Steps When the Bank Says No
Creative options can jump-start your business, give you needed cash flow
You've found a niche where you can make money – but you need money. Armed with a solid business plan, you march into a bank – and walk out disappointed when the bank says, "No." Small business owners can improve their chance of finding a loan if they understand three things: Find out why the bank turned thumbs down. Common reasons are bad credit, high...
