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

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!

 

Working Capital. Every Business Needs It!

Working Capital. Every Business Needs It!

How long would your business last without enough money to cover expenses? Most businesses fail within the first three years due to lack of enough working capital, and even well established operations can experience cash crunches. Competitors are a constant. How financially strong your business is, will determine how well you can compete.

The frustration for many business owners is this – traditional lending sources either require you to be financially solid before they lend you money to grow or are conservative in the amount of credit they extend to the seasoned business operator.

So where do most business owners obtain the financing they need to grow their business? In short, asset based lenders. There is a 2nd tier of lenders below bank financing that finance purchase orders, equipment needs, inventory, real estate and accounts receivable. Essentially any asset listed on a given company’s balance sheet can be eligible for financing. Their focus is either on the quality of the asset they are financing or the financial strength of the customer placing the order (in the case of purchase order and accounts receivable financing). This approach makes financing growth much more obtainable for business owners.

What about financing for the established companies? A challenge remains here as well. Financing available for the established business owners is often inadequate to meet growth needs. Banks are most typically conservative and provide small lines of credit, even to companies with strong net worth and income. Companies need creative solutions when seeking additional capital and this creativity comes from the non-regulated, more entreprenuerial thinking, capital sources in the market. Could your business benefit from knowing a partner like this?

About Huntington Coast Capital.

Huntington Coast Capital secures funding for companies in a broad base of industries. Our clients come to us to find a more flexible lending partner to meet their growth needs. Many are declined by the bank and are in need of a more creative and entrepreneurial funding solution.

We consult on a wide range of funding options for business owners throughout the United States in the following areas:

  • Supply chain financing
  • Equipment loans and lease programs (learn more about our equipment loan platform offered through our subsidiary)
  • Lines of credit for working capital needs
  • Term loans for marketing, hiring staff and general expansion needs
  • Factoring services for accounts receivable financing that also provides for back office credit and collection functions
  • Purchase order financing
  • Asset based loans
  • Business acquisition financing
  • Inventory financing
  • Private commercial real estate bridge loans
  • SBA loans for business and real estate needs

Whether you are a startup or established, in need of $100,000 or $10,000,000 we have the capital partners to meet your needs. Contact us to see how we can assist in taking your business to the next level. To your success!

Asset Based Loans  The Difference Between Interest Rate and Opportunity Cost

Asset Based Loans The Difference Between Interest Rate and Opportunity Cost

Huntington Beach CA 

What is the interest rate? How much does it cost? What fees are involved? These are some popular questions our clients ask when considering borrowing money to grow their business. These questions are typical when looking to see how much something is going to cost over the long run. However, these questions are more applicable to purchases related to a home mortgage, a car loan, applying for a credit card or other more commodity based financial products.

When considering Opportunity Cost the analysis is much different. For example, if I told you the cost of capital for fulfilling multiple $100,000 orders is 20%, you may say “that’s too expensive!” However, when you take a closer look at it, the true funding costs may be only 6% to 7% per order less early payment discounts. The borrower makes substantially more money than the cost of financing if the margins can support the cost.

Here is an example of a typical analysis we take our clients through. It’s a simple way to determine if financing is right for your business.

  • A purchase order is received from a customer and the cost of goods is $100,000 (your cost or wholesale cost)
  • Your gross margin on this sale is 60% (your sales price to the customer is $160,000)
  • Your financing cost is 6.5% of your wholesale cost for 120 day funding or $6,500 ($100,000 multiplied by 6.5%)
  • The gross profit calculated after financing cost is $53,500 on this order ($60,000 profit minus $6,500 in finance cost)

The question becomes, “would you spend $6,500 to earn $53,500?” Most all of us would agree that is a worthwhile opportunity. There are some variables that can effect these numbers both positively and negatively. For example, if your company has high fixed costs, this will chew in to the profits. On the contrary, if you are able to negotiate a discount for early payment to suppliers (i.e. a 2% discount for payment in 10 days, expressed as 2%/10 net 30) it will have a positive effect on profits.

Keep in mind that this is one sale and each additional sale will have a better net earnings ratio. This is because fixed costs typically stay the same and more profit gets kicked to the bottom line as more sales are realized. An example of where this analysis doesn’t make sense is if a company has out of control fixed expenses or super slim margins as seen in the electromics industry. In our experience, this analysis pencils out for most of our clients.

We always encourage our clients to look at how much they stand to make versus solely focusing on cost. The lender also needs to earn a return and if expectations are managed, business owners can grow their companies and earn more as a result.

About Huntington Coast Capital. 

Huntington Coast Capital secures funding for companies in a broad base of industries. Our clients come to us to find a more flexible lending partner to meet their growth needs. Many are declined by the bank and are in need of a more creative and entrepreneurial funding solution.

We consult on a wide range of funding options for business owners throughout the United States in the following areas:

  • Supply chain financing 
  • Equipment loans and lease programs (learn more about our equipment loan platform offered through our subsidiary)
  • Lines of credit for working capital needs
  • Term loans for marketing, hiring staff and general expansion needs
  • Factoring services for accounts receivable financing that also provides for back office credit and collection functions
  • Purchase order financing
  • Asset based loans
  • Business acquisition financing
  • Inventory financing
  • Private commercial real estate bridge loans
  • SBA loans for business and real estate needs

Whether you are a startup or established, in need of $100,000 or $10,000,000 we have the capital partners to meet your needs. Contact us to see how we can assist in taking your business to the next level. To your success!

What Is An Asset Based Loan?

What Is An Asset Based Loan?

Huntington Beach, CA: The term asset based loan is widely used to describe a loan secured against an asset of value as security for the money borrowed. Huntington Coast Capital has been securing asset based loans for our clients in California and across the nation since 2010. Asset based loans consist of loans secured by commercial real estate, inventory, accounts receivable, purchase orders or equipment. Below is a brief summary on how we have assisted our clients in securing asset based loans in California and across the United States in these different categories.

  1. Commercial and investment real estate. Companies that lack sufficient business collateral are often required to pledge outside collateral as an abundance of caution in this type of asset based loan. Often referred to as bridge loans, these loans usually have terms of 6 months to 3 years and are offered through private money capital providers. These asset based loans are offered in California and throughout the country.
  2. Inventory loans. For companies in the manufacturing, distribution, wholesale and retail spaces, inventory represents cash tied up in goods for sale. Inventory can be used as security in an asset based loan. Depending on the type of inventory however, a loan may not be available. For example, if a company is selling fresh fish, meat or poultry, finding an asset based loan will likely not be possible due to the quick turn of this type of product and the potential for spoilage. Other forms of inventory such as t-shirts, tires, dried goods and other products with long shelf lives have a much better chance of being accepted as collateral for an asset based loan.
  3. Accounts receivable and purchase orders. These two assets represent an amount owed and an order for shipment. Both of these asset types qualify for an asset based loan. In fact, these two asset classes are the most popular asset based loan being requested from our clients in California. Companies in search of improved working capital utilize their accounts receivable as collateral for an asset based loan and their purchase orders as collateral when looking to obtain funding to cover their cost of goods to suppliers.
  4. Equipment loans. Asset based loans used to purchase or refinance equipment are for a specific purpose. Retail sector companies such as restaurants are big users of equipment loans as well as companies in the manufacturing sector. Often times in business acquisitions, equipment loans provide a portion of the funds required for the purchase if the equipment is currently owed free and clear and has a usable life of over 10 years.

Asset based loans are vital to the economy and provide funds to companies when more traditional finance programs can not meet the need. If you are a California company in search of an asset based loan or are located anywhere in the continental United States and looking for financing to take advantage of growth opportunities, consider an asset based loan.

Need assistance navigating the capital markets? That is our specialty and we are eager to help. For advise and counsel on asset based loans or any other form of business financing, give us a call 714-719-8966.

To your success!

Patrick Zazueta
Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.

How Will A Rise In Interest Rates Effect Business Owners?

How Will A Rise In Interest Rates Effect Business Owners?

Things That Traditionally Increase When the Fed Increases Interest Rates

The recent rise in the Fed funds rate will likely cause a ripple effect on the borrowing costs for consumers and businesses that want to access credit based on the U.S. dollar. That has an impact across numerous credit categories, including the following:

  • The Prime Rate: A hike in the Feds rate immediately fueled a jump in the prime rate, which represents the credit rate that banks extend to their most credit-worthy customers. This rate is the one on which other forms of consumer credit are based, as a higher prime rate means that banks will increase fixed, and variable-rate borrowing costs when assessing risk on less credit-worthy companies and consumers.
  • Credit Card Rates: Working off the prime rate, banks will determine how credit-worthy other individuals are based on their risk profile. Rates will be affected for credit cards and other loans as both require extensive risk-profiling of consumers seeking credit to make purchases. Short-term borrowing will have higher rates than those considered long-term.
  • Savings: Money market and credit-deposit (CD) rates increase due to the tick up of the prime rate. In theory, that should boost savings among consumers and businesses as they can generate a higher return on their savings. However, it is possible that anyone with a debt burden would seek to pay off their financial obligations to offset higher variable rates tied to credit cards, home loans, or other debt instruments.
  • U.S. National Debt: A hike in interest rates boosts the borrowing costs for the U.S. government and fuel an increase in the national debt. A report from 2015 by the Congressional Budget Office and Dean Baker, a director at the Center for Economic and Policy Research in Washington, estimates that the U.S. government may end up paying $2.9 trillion more over the next decade due to increases in the interest rate, than it would have if the rates had stayed near zero.

Things That Are Largely Unaffected When the Fed Increases Benchmark Interest Rates

  • Auto Loan Rates: Auto companies have benefited immensely from the Fed’s zero-interest-rate policy, but rising benchmark rates will have an incremental impact. Surprisingly, auto loans have not shifted much since the Federal Reserve’s announcement because they are long-term loans.
  • Mortgage Rates: A sign of a rate hike can send home borrowers rushing to close on a deal for a fixed loan rate on a new home. However, mortgage rates traditionally fluctuate more in tandem with the yield of domestic 10-year Treasury notes, which are largely affected by inflation rates.

Things That Traditionally Decrease When the Fed Increases Interest Rates

  • Business Profits: When interest rates rise, that’s typically good news for the profitability of the banking sector, as noted by investment giant Goldman Sachs. But for the rest of the global business sector, a rate hike carves into profitability. That’s because the cost of capital required to expand goes higher. That could be terrible news for a market that is currently in an earnings recession.
  • Home Sales: Higher interest rates and higher inflation typically cool demand in the housing sector. On a 30-year loan at 4.0%, home buyers can currently anticipate at least 60% in interest payments over the duration of their investment. Any uptick is surely a deterrent to acquiring the long-term investment former President George Bush once described as central to “The American Dream.”
  • Consumer Spending: A rise in borrowing costs traditionally weighs on consumer spending. Both higher credit card rates and higher savings rates due to better bank rates provide fuel a downturn in consumer impulse purchasing. (For more, read How Interest Rates Affect Spending.)

Equipment financing, inventory financing, and working capital loans are easy to find right? Not if you’re in one of these two scenarios…

Equipment financing, inventory financing, and working capital loans are easy to find right? Not if you’re in one of these two scenarios…

Huntington Beach, CA: Business owners looking to obtain a business loan for equipment financing, inventory financing or working capital have many options to choose from. Capital is plentiful for companies on the rise and in need of financing to meet their growth potential. In fact, most of our clients come to us with equipment financing, purchase order financing, inventory financing, and working capital loan needs. Huntington Coast Capital has a extremely high success ratio in placing these loan requests.

However, there are a couple of situations where this may not be so easy. On a rare occasion we will get a funding request for a company in the medicinal marijuana industry. While the selling of marijuana is legal in some states, there is still a stigma attached to it, even if it is legitimately prescribed by a doctor. As you can imagine, obtaining funding for the growers and distributors in this industry, even if completely legitimate, is very difficult to secure. Some lenders simply do not lend in this industry and lump it together with other unsavory industries like gambling and adult content distribution. Is this fair? I have no idea. This article isn’t about providing an opinion on what the lender’s moral compass should be when analyzing loan requests in this industry. I can say, however, that finding a lender to fund your expansion in this business is very difficult. In fact, even with our extensive contacts in the industry, we only know of one. That’s right one. However, we were happy to have this contact when we received a call from a company in Colorado inquiring about an equipment loan along with funding for tenant improvements for his budding (no pun intended) business. The fact is that his cash flow and profit margins are extremely strong and his business could grow substantially with the right capital partner. Looks like we found them a solution after months of searching on their own in vain. A satisfying moment for us indeed. Now his Cannabis business is set to catapult to the next level!

The second difficult spot to be in is when you are looking for accounts receivable financing for consumer accounts receivable. The market is flooded with options for financing accounts receivable when you are selling business to business, but business to consumer is a ghost town. Most all lenders have the perspective that financing against these debt pools is risky and the credit process for business credit and personal credit is much more subjective and difficult to manage. I have to say, that I agree. To manage risk in this area requires having a specialty and sole dedication to the industry. Like other types of lending, you need to manage losses through diversifying the risk over several separate exposures and minimize credit to any one debt holder. However, this said, it is possible, just not popular among the lending community. As before, we have only one lender in this industry! We don’t come across these requests too often, but when we do, it is satisfying to say, “we may have a solution.”

Do you have a difficult loan request? Has everyone told you “no” because you fit one of the scenarios above? If so, we would like to speak with you!

Be on the lookout for our next blog article that features auto mechanics and why that experience also requires a knowledge of the options! I think we can all agree that we are paying too much for our cars to be serviced in most cases and it pays to know who else can do it for less!

Contact us 714-719-8966

HCC Secures $570,000 Loan For An Electronics Distributor

HCC Secures $570,000 Loan For An Electronics Distributor

In a first of two capital placements, Huntington Coast Capital secured a $570,000 SBA 7A loan for a electronics distributor in Chicago, IL.

The company was in dire need of additional capital to meet it’s growing demand. They needed capital to purchase the inventory they then sold on their online platform. Because the company sold at point of sale through the website, they were not a fit for traditional accounts receivable financing.

The company specializes in refurbished tablet computers – mainly iPad and Samsung units. In this business, it is necessary to have the inventory on hand to be able to fulfill customer orders in a timely manner. The newly acquired line of credit will allow them to do just that.

As a second step, HCC is now working with them on a supply chain funding facility for an additional $500,000 to work in conjunction with the existing financing. With a total purchasing power of $1,000,000, the company would be able to grow exponentially.

If your business could benefit from additional capital, we would like to speak with you.

To your success!

Patrick Zazueta | Founder
Huntington Coast Capital, Inc.
714-719-8966