Accounts receivable financing

Myths About Small Business Loans | Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.
By Patrick

Myths About Small Business Loans | Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.

 

 

A business may occasionally require additional cash for short or long-term purposes. As a business owner, you can invest your own money or seek external investment. A small business loan, however, is a more common option.

However, some business owners, especially those who have never taken a business loan, can have several doubts about business loans. Indeed, the process involved in arranging a business loan, its benefits, and many other issues are commonly misunderstood.

Here are some common myths about business loans and the facts that all business owners should know.

 

Loans Only Benefit Businesses That Aren’t Doing Well

Many assume that any company in need of a loan is facing a hard financial time. Distressed companies have a particular motivation to get loans, but plenty of strong businesses also require occasional loans.

The type of business determines the need for additional financing. Your business can acquire a loan to finance growth and expansion, for instance, through hiring more staff or installing additional equipment. Such improvements can boost your business’ success and make it more competitive.

 

You Need to Have a Perfect Credit Rating to Get a Loan

To be clear, you should always maintain good credit scores on your personal and business accounts. Having a good credit rating makes borrowing easier and gives you more options for deals you can choose from. However, a low credit score isn’t an indication that you can’t get a loan.

Bad credit does happen, and lenders recognize that. The lenders also recognize that a lower credit score does not necessarily mean you are a lending risk. Therefore, you may still be able to find a lender willing to work with you. You may have to make a trade-off, such as accepting a higher interest rate.

 

Small Businesses Cannot Apply for Larger Loans

In no way should the size of your business prevent you from approaching a lender for a larger loan. Many lenders prefer high-amount loan applications, including mainstream banks.

However, repayment capability is key for a small business looking to borrow a larger sum of money. Thus, you should be able to provide proof to your lender that your business can afford to repay the loan. If your company lacks adequate cash flow, you may still get a loan if you convince the lender that your business plan will allow you to repay the loan.

 

All Business Loans Are the Same

Your business may want to borrow money for many reasons, and you have many options for financing your endeavor. Numerous loan options can be advantageous, but they also necessitate research before you apply.

Choosing the right business loan is the first step to obtaining business financing. Some of the types of business loans can include:

  • Working capital loans for every day variable expenses the business has
  • A term loan to finance the cost of fixed expenses or a business acquisition
  • Equipment financing
  • Inventory financing
  • Accounts receivable financing
  • Purchase order financing

You can determine what business loan is best for you by considering factors such as your loan purpose and desired loan terms.

 

Loan Applications Are Time Consuming

The myth was true years ago — getting business finance approval could take months due to paper-based submissions and employee evaluations. Thanks to paperless digital solutions and software, the process is much faster today. You can complete your application within minutes and get approval in days.

But don’t ignore the importance of doing some preparation beforehand. The lender can turn your business loan request around faster if you provide all of the necessary items they need to underwrite your loan request quickly. The count down to closing starts when the lender has 100% of what they need to issue an approval on your loan.

The misconceptions about business loans can prevent you from being able to take advantage of a favorable financing opportunity. Hopefully, having busted a few myths on business loans has given you a good idea about why loans can be an excellent financing source.

For more information on business funding or to complete a funding application, feel free to contact us at Huntington Coast Capital, Inc., today. Call 844-239-2632 and learn how a business loan can help grow your business!

 

Accounts Receivable Financing | Huntington Coast Capital
By Patrick

Accounts Receivable Financing | Huntington Coast Capital

 

If you are a business owner or financial manager, you know that cash flow management can be a challenging task. One tool that can help businesses address short-term cash needs is accounts receivable financing. In this article, we will provide an overview of what accounts receivable financing is, how it works, and the benefits to help you decide if it is the right option for your company.

 

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable financing helps businesses secure a line of credit by offering their accounts receivable as collateral. Accounts receivable are amounts that a company expects from its customers for goods or services that it delivered, but have not yet received payment for. Accounts receivable are company assets, because they represent future cash inflows that the company expects to receive. By securing a line of credit against your company’s accounts receivable, you are able to improve and level off the capital needed in your business. 

 

Mechanics

During your operations, your business will gradually accumulate credit from customers that have yet to pay for your products. However, you might need to pay recurrent expenditure like wages or bills and might require funds immediately. If the customers cannot pay within the time you require funds, a financing institution can lend you money minus the fee based on the amount of accounts receivable, business type, and industry.

 

Types of Accounts Receivable Financing

Accounts receivable financing is delivered in different forms depending on how the loan is structured between the financial institution and the borrowing entity. Asset sales, factoring, and loans are three types of financing arrangements that businesses can use to access funds based on their accounts receivable.

 

Asset sales

In an asset sale, a company sells its accounts receivable, a current asset, to a financial institution in exchange for immediate cash. The financial institution then becomes responsible for the credit and collection from the customer. Asset sale financing can be a useful option for businesses that need to access funds quickly and are willing to sell their accounts receivable at a discount. Also known as a “non-recourse” transaction, the invoices used as the collateral are purchased outright at a discount whereby the purchaser takes the risk of collection. This financing option is typically only available when the invoices being purchased are from large, credit-worthy institutions. 

 

Factoring

Factoring is a financial arrangement in which a lender provides a business with funds based on the value of its outstanding invoices. The lender evaluates the invoices and decides to fund a percentage of their value. The business then receives the funds upfront and uses them to cover everyday expenses. The lender charges a fee for this service, which they deduct from the proceeds of the invoice when the customer settles their debt. Unlike an asset sale, a factoring agreement is ongoing and accounts receivable are used on a daily basis as invoices are generated by the borrower. It is a line of credit that grows as the business grows using the accounts receivable as collateral. Advance rates range from 50% to 95% depending on the collection quality experienced by the business and industry as a whole. For example, in the temporary staffing and trucking industry, advance rates of 95% are fairly common because the invoiced amount is typically paid at full value. Conversely, in the healthcare industry where invoices are sent to insurance companies for payment, a much lower advance rate is given due to the reduced payments experienced in the industry (i.e. invoiced amount may be $10,000 and collected amount could be $7,500 based on what the insurance company deems as eligible). 

 

Loans

A loan is a financial arrangement in which a lender provides a business with a set amount of funds the business must pay over a fixed period, including interest. These are referred to as term loans. Businesses can use term loans to finance accounts receivable; however, the collateral is usually a blanket lien on all assets, including accounts receivable, in these scenarios. Term loans are used to cover fixed expenses such as acquisition of real estate, acquisition of a business, tenant improvements, new equipment, marketing and advertising, hiring, etc. Term loans usually include a 10-year amortization (the “fixed period”). Loans are the only option in accounts receivables where the business does not pass the accounts receivables to the financial institution. Rather, the accounts receivable are a part, together with other assets such as inventory and equipment, of the total collateral for the loan. 

 

Benefits

Unlike traditional business loans, institutions approve and fund accounts receivable financing quickly, often within a few days. Thus, this financing method makes it a good option for businesses that need to access cash quickly.

Many types of financing, such as business loans, require collateral to secure the loan. With accounts receivable financing, the only collateral is is the accounts receivable. This makes accounts receivable financing and attractive and easier to obtain form of financing to enhance the working capital of your business. 

Minimal paperwork and easy application process: The application process for accounts receivable financing is generally simpler and requires less paperwork than traditional business loans. This can be a significant advantage for businesses that are short on time or resources. There are fewer covenants and restrictions contained in accounts receivable financing contracts, making them an attractive option for most when compared to traditional bank financing. 

Accounts receivable financing can help businesses smooth out their cash flow and make it easier to plan for future financial needs. This kind of financing is especially useful to businesses with rapid growth but slow cashflows. They receive the funds they need and worry about debt collection later.

 

Contact us at Huntington Coast Capital to discuss your accounts receivable financing needs or call 844-239-2632. We look forward to bringing value to your business!