Start Up Business Loans

November 3, 2009

Term Loans for Small Businesses

If you’re an entrepreneur and you plan on getting funding assistance for your business, one option you may consider is a term loan. In this article, we’ll discuss the basic points about term loans for small businesses.

Business startup financing

What is a term loan? Term loans have a fixed length of repayment period, lasting from a year to 20 years or more, depending on the type of loan you obtained. The amortization or the amount of repayment that the borrower would need to submit includes both the principal and interest of the loan.

Short Term Business Loans

Short term loans mature within a year or less and are ideal for growing businesses that need additional funding in the middle of operations. There are a number of short term business loans offered by lenders. Examples are working capital loans, accounts receivable loans, equity, lines of credit, etc. For instance, if a business needs funds to launch new marketing campaigns, buy more stocks, or hire additional workers, short term business loans provide an easy solution.

Long Term Business Loans

What about long term business loans? Obviously, this type of term loan takes a longer time to mature and complete. Long term business loans can have a 10-year, 20-year, to 30-year repayment period depending on the amount of money borrowed. Long term loans can start from $25,000 to as much as $50,000 or more.

If you are in need of large money to start your business, obtaining a long term loan is the more practical choice. Usually, term loans require collateral as a guarantee for the loan. Nevertheless, because long term business loans involve big cash, lenders are more strict and cautious when giving their approval.

Applicants for long term loans should be prepared to submit all the necessary documentations that the lender requires. Aside from the collateral, a professional business plan, along with business licensing certificates and accounts spreadsheets are often required to be submitted.

Your Business Credit History

Whether you’re applying for a short term or long term business loan, the status of your credit plays an important role in getting approved for the loan. Thus, it is advised to check on your business credit report before submitting your loan application. Although, there are lenders who grant loans despite bad credit, these loans usually have higher interest rates and fees. On the opposite, an excellent business credit gives you the advantage of getting lower interest rates and faster approval from lenders.

But what if you haven’t yet established your business credit history? In this case, your personal credit history would be used by your lender. Obtain a copy of your credit report to check on your credit score. Of course, a higher credit score makes you a more qualified candidate for a business loan while a low credit score puts you at a bad light. If you have a very low credit rating, it is best to work on your credit first before trying to apply for a business loan.

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October 14, 2009

On Getting Secured Business Loans

In today’s world, an individual’s personal credit can play a big role in life. Finding a stable employment, getting approved for a loan easily, being qualified to the best credit cards in the market, and having the power to negotiate with lenders- these are the privileges that a person with excellent credit can enjoy. The same thing goes for business owners. An excellent business credit gives an entrepreneur the power to ask for easy approval and better rates from business loan lenders.

On the contrary, bad credit or low credit scores often have to settle with business loans and business credit cards that have higher interest rates, lower credit lines, and fewer privileges. Getting approved for a business loan can prove to be difficult since most lenders prefer to grant new business accounts only to those with good to excellent credit history.

With this in mind, every business owner must be concerned about the status of his or her personal credit history or business credit history. If you currently have bad credit, what can you do to improve your situation? What steps can you take in order to rebuild your credit reputation? The good news is, you don’t have to suffer with bad credit forever. Yes, it is possible to regain good credit history and keep it in good or ever excellent standing. How?

What Are Secured Bad Credit or Poor Credit Business Loans

Secured business loans, also called poor credit business loans can be tools to repairing your poor credit history. Lenders who offer secured business loans would require collateral as a guarantee for the loan. Typically, the amount of loan or capital that can be borrowed depends on the value of the collateral to be submitted. Obviously, the higher the value of your property or asset that you would submit to secure your loan, the greater the amount of your business loan would be. In case of a default, your lender would automatically repossess your property as payment for your unpaid debts.

Bad credit business loans have higher interest rates compared to regular business loans but if you do your research well, you should be able to find a lender who offers reasonable rates and terms. What’s great about a secured business loan is that your loan application can be quickly approved despite your poor credit history.

As soon as your secured business loan has been granted, you now have the opportunity to start rebuilding your credit. Make it a point to submit your monthly loan payments to your lender on time. Never miss or delay even a single payment on your loan. Be consistently aware of your deadline of payments. As much as possible, pay your monthly loan before your due date and don’t wait until the last day of payment arrives.

To avoid incurring new debts, use your business loan wisely. If in case there are times when you can’t submit your payments on your due date, call your lender immediately. Inform them about your situation and ask for a grace period. Usually, a lender would give you up to 30 days to submit your payment without reporting it to the credit bureaus as late payment. If you keep in touch with your lender at once, they’ll be more willing to give you the consideration you need.

By keeping up with your monthly business loan payments, you should be able to seen an improvement in your business credit after only a few months. Within a year, you may have upgraded your credit score from bad to good. Strive to make it better by staying true to your payment obligations. In time, you should be able to enjoy what other business owners with excellent credit enjoy – better deals from lenders.

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October 7, 2009

Small Business Equipment Leasing, is it a wise choice?

Whether you’re starting up a business or in the process of expanding the business, funding can be a challenge. Applying for a business loan can take time and you may not want to wait too long. Therefore, why not consider equipment lease financing?

For many successful businesses, equipment leasing has greatly helped them in getting the financial assistance they need. Is it really wise to lease equipment? To answer this question objectively, perhaps it’s best to take a look at the advantages that leasing equipment offers for a business:

Equipment leasing frees up your cash flow.
Equipment leasing does not require a down payment. An equipment lease allows a business to pay for the equipment in monthly installments so there’s no need to put in huge amount of money just to get the needed equipment.

If you want, you can also apply for a lease term that enables you to submit your payments on a yearly basis. Thus, you can use your existing finances to support different functions of your business such as the production, manpower or marketing campaigns.

Equipment leasing gives easy approval.
Compared with obtaining a business loan from banks, equipment leasing isn’t too complicated. Most equipment leasing companies will only consider the last six months of your credit history. In addition, leasing firms will require a business plan to be submitted and a list of the equipment you wish to obtain.

Preparing the necessary documents in advance would help speed up the processing of your equipment lease application. Once you have submitted the necessary documents along with your leasing application, you can expect to get immediate approval and get the devices or machineries you ordered right away.

Equipment leasing lets you use state-of-the-art equipment.
Purchasing the latest equipment in the market can be really expensive. As a starting business or as a growing business, you may have a hard time getting sufficient budget to buy these machines especially if you need a lot of equipment.

Nevertheless, leasing gives business owners a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Yes, through equipment leasing, you can choose the latest equipment in the market without breaking your budget.

Equipment leasing protects you from obsolescence.
Devices are constantly modified and better versions are introduced in the market almost on a yearly basis. Purchasing equipment doesn’t give you the leeway to change old or obsolete equipment as easily. By leasing business equipment, you can choose to replace your leased equipment for newer models in the market.

Using only the latest in technology will surely give your business the productivity and the edge over your competitors. To avail of this option, make sure that a "modern equipment substitution clause" is included in your lease term.

Equipment leasing gives an entrepreneur special tax benefits.
Leasing payments are considered as monthly expenses or operating costs, not debt. Thus, it is possible to write them off from your taxes. However, to be sure, it is best to consult matters about filing taxes with a business lawyer or with a certified public accountant.

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October 5, 2009

Business Start Up and What You Need

We often hear that in order to succeed in a business, planning and preparation are needed. Many people have rushed-in into opening up a business only to find that they weren’t prepared for the challenges. Sadly, most of them who opened a business unprepared were forced to close shortly.

If you have plans on venturing into your business, don’t overlook the necessity of planning and preparation. Let’s discuss the main things you should consider in advance when starting up a business.

Commitment, Discipline and Determination
Starting up your own business will demand lots of your time and energy particularly on the early stage of the business. If you were used to working eight hours, going home, and leaving all your tasks in the office as an employee, things will be a lot different running your own business.

You would be facing loads of tasks in your hands, and lots of responsibilities and decision-making on your shoulders. Yes, you can work in your phase and at your own time, but if you don’t have a work schedule to follow, or if you’re not following the schedules you’ve set, your business will be in trouble. Thus, self-discipline, commitment, and determination are qualities that you must have and you must nurture if you want to succeed in a business.

Knowledge About the Business
Being knowledgeable in running a business and in the specific type of business you wish to start on is very important. Most people who overlooked this factor have failed with their business. For instance, you need to have at least a basic knowledge in accounting to be able to manage more effectively. You need to know the basics about working with a computer to handle your tasks more quickly and easily. If you wish to start an online business, then you should know at least the basics about how internet marketing is done.
If you think you lack the skills and knowledge on these things, it’s about time to start learning about it before you even start the business.

Understanding and learning about business management is essential to be able to make the right decisions for the business. Furthermore, managing a business involves different areas such as marketing, production, accounting, human resources, finance, and others. Even if you will be hiring employees to perform these tasks, you still need to have at least the basic understanding about these functions in order to manage your people and the business effectively.

Start up Financing
Do you have sufficient funds to start up the business? This is a question you have to seriously consider. If you have your own resources to fund the business, it is still possible to get help from other sources. Nevertheless, you have to be very careful and certain when trying to obtain funds for your business.

Possible options to obtain start-up financing would be to borrow from friends or relatives, get a loan from banks or lending institutions, seeking angel investors, applying for a business equipment leasing or seek a government grant. Whatever you decide, see to it that you’ve made extensive research about each financial source before choosing the one you feel is best. Make sure that you’re dealing with a legitimate and trusted company and lastly, see to it that a lawyer has checked that all agreements written in the contract are legal and true before it is signed by all parties involved.

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September 28, 2009

Who Will Finance The Purchase of Your Business?

It is a fact that a business isn’t always guaranteed to succeed. In some cases, despite all your best efforts to save the business, you are left with no other choice but to sell. But selling a business doesn’t always mean that it was a failure. Some business owners are faced with the need to sell because they don’t have the time or the energy to run it or sometimes because they just don’t want to continue with it. Whatever your reason is for selling your business, there are different ways on how you can get through with your selling. One way to do so is by seller financing.

What is seller financing?
Simply put, it is where the business seller offers to finance the business so that the buyer will not need to apply for a financing loan of his own. This helps a seller find more prospective buyers, especially those who do not have the requirements needed to secure a loan from a lender.

As part of the deal, the buyer of the business will only pay the agreed upfront payment, and continue with his payments in installments within the time period that is agreed upon between both of them (the buyer and the seller). The seller will take a lien against the business until the buyer completely pays all his balance in time. As the seller, it will give you the benefit of continuously profiting from your sale with a higher interest.

Naturally, the price of the business will be much higher since higher interest rates will be incurred. However, most buyers prefer this way of selling, because it gives them ample time to make repayments and it also gives them more confidence on the profitability and potential the business. Since the business seller is willing to finance it, then surely it still has a strong potential in the market.

Should You Offer Seller Financing?
Given that seller financing has its benefits, it also has its risks. First of all, if the business will not be a success, then you won’t be able to claim the full repayment that you originally planned. Yes, there is a lien on the business but it doesn’t guarantee that it will be enough to give you the complete price you spent on the business. For this reason, some business sellers ask for additional security or collateral from their buyer just in case the business fails.

If you intend to sell your business, seller financing is an option you can consider but remember that this option may not be the best option for all business owners. It does give you an opportunity to get more from your investment, but it is also accompanied by risks. Furthermore, if you’re selling the business because you need the cash, then definitely this isn’t the way to go. Thus, study your situation carefully before deciding to choose this method of selling.

If however, you do choose to go on with seller financing, remember to carefully check on the buyer’s background and reputation. Also, consider asking for an additional collateral to give yourself more security and protection.

Read More Who Will Finance The Purchase of Your Business?

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September 23, 2009

Equipment Leasing, Your Weapon in your Business

The high costs of purchases in the market can certainly affect a business. If you only have limited funds, these expensive costs can hinder your plans and impair your business potential. For instance, buying the needed equipment for your business can eat up a large portion of your budget. How can you minimize your costs without compromising your business needs?

Fight High Costs Through Equipment Leasing

Is it possible to beat the high costs of equipment? The answer is yes. Equipment leasing may just be the solution you need. Instead of purchasing brand new machinery or vehicles at a high price, leasing gives you the opportunity to “rent” equipment at a much lesser cost. Through leasing, there’s no need to pay in full just to obtain the equipment you need. Most leasing companies do not even require a down payment but for those who do, it usually involves just a small amount of down payment.

The equipment leased is usually paid on a monthly basis although a business owner can also choose to pay on a yearly basis or choose other modes of payment depending on the leasing company’s terms. By the end of the lease term, you have the option to own the equipment at a cheaper price or simply return it to the lessor.

Equipment leasing is indeed, a practical and wise move not only for small businesses but for large companies as well. Even large companies take advantage of the tax benefits they can get from leasing equipment and structures. Unlike purchases, leases are tax deductible so it allows a business to cut off its costs even further. What are the other advantages of leasing business equipment?

No to Obsolescence

A great advantage that leasing has over purchasing equipment is that it protects the business owner from obsolescence. When you buy an equipment or a vehicle, its value depreciates as it gets old, worn out, obsolete. With the advancement of technology, equipment and vehicles today are easily replaced with the latest or the more enhanced versions in the market.

If you bought your equipment, you wouldn’t be able to just replace them with a newer model without spending a fortune. Because you’ve already invested a big amount of money on that equipment, re-purchasing is not an option. On the contrary, leasing gives you the freedom to obtain state-of-the-art equipment without spending so much.

Furthermore, leasing companies do not only provide equipment. Along with the hardware, a business can also obtain professional assistance, training and support with the installation and use of the equipment, particularly if it involves the use of advanced software and technology. This gives small businesses or new businesses the edge to keep up with their competitors in the market.

Finally, equipment leasing is easier to obtain than conventional business loans or bank loans. Lease applications can be sent online and you can expect a response within the same day. If you’re qualified, processing your lease is done immediately so you can receive the equipment you ordered in as little as 1 week or two.

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August 19, 2009

Equipment Leasing - a Best Option for Your Business?

When starting up a business, purchasing the needed devices or equipment may cost you a fortune. If you only have a limited start up capital, these expenses alone can eat up your budget. The good news is, businesses now have the option to start the business without the need to buy brand new equipment. How? Though business equipment leasing. In this article, let’s discuss the benefits of leasing business equipment:

Equipment leasing frees up your cash. You don’t have to use up all your cash just to buy new computer, machines or other devices necessary for your business. You can save your cash for more important expenses instead. Add to this, equipment leasing do not require expensive down payments and you can submit your payments in installments so that it’s easier on the budget.

Equipment leasing enables you to start the business now. Again, you don’t have to wait to save up a big amount of money just to start your own business. In fact, many successful small business owners were able to overcome tight budget limitations and execute their business ideas through leasing equipment.

Equipment leasing provides 100% financing. When you lease business equipment, everything you need to start using your equipment is taken care of by your leasing company. From freight services to installation as well as providing training and support – all these services should be included with your lease package.

Leasing lets you use state-of-the art equipment at a much lesser price. Even if you have a limited capital, you have the option to choose the latest and most advanced equipment for your business. If you’re going to buy a new device, you may be forced to settle for an older version just because it’s cheaper and more affordable.

Equipment leasing saves you from obsolescence. Purchasing a brand new computer today requires an expensive budget. Yet your brand new computer can obsolete and lose its value after only a few years. Through leasing, you can replace the equipment you leased for a better one at any time you want.

Equipment leasing is eligible for tax write-offs. An equipment lease can be considered as a business operating expense and is therefore eligible for tax write-offs of exemptions. Imagine how much you can save from your equipment’s tax value.

It is easy and convenient to obtain. Compared to applying for a business loan, leasing equipment is a lot more convenient, easier and faster. You can search for the best equipment leasing company online, send in your application online and get approved online as well. The process is not complicated and you can get approved within the same day.

Equipment leasing comes with more flexible payment terms. Leasing isn’t just limited to one type of payment term. You may choose to pay for your equipment lease on a monthly or annual basis, whichever is more suited for your business. Equipment leasing companies usually provide a number of payment options and payment schedules to accommodate their client’s needs. Choose a repayment term that is most convenient and appropriate to your financial situation.

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August 11, 2009

How to Get Approved For A Construction Equipment Leasing

Applying for equipment lease should not be a very difficult task. However, some businesses may find some hindrances along the way by failing to do the necessary preparations on leasing equipment.

Here are some tips on how you can get approved for a construction equipment leasing more quickly:

Check your credit standing.
Poor credit status can get in the way of getting your construction equipment lease. Even before you apply for an equipment lease, see to it that you don’t have any problems on your credit history, especially on your business accounts. See to it that you have made all your payments too all your creditors. In addition, keep all your invoices or receipts of your payments for future references. A great credit history will surely speed up the approval of your lease.

Prepare necessary documentations.
Prepare the necessary documentations to avoid delaying your approval. You can prepare a document that contains complete information about your business, such as a brief history, the nature of the business, the industry where your company belongs, its current standing in market, your projections for the business, and other important details. Also, prepare in advance a list of all the equipment you wish to include in your construction equipment lease as well as the leasing terms that you expect as a lessee.

Include your business’s copy of tax returns and financial statements.
If you’re applying for construction equipment financing that amounts to more than $75,000, make sure you have already prepared financial statements. Leasing companies would appreciate it if a business can present its financial standing for at least the past three years of operations.

Include References
It is recommended to provide at least three references with your leasing application to support your credibility as a business. Possible references can be your past or present lender, vendors, or other creditors you’ve done business with. Just make sure that you have a good history with these creditors and that you did not have any conflicts with them.

Include professional partnerships.
If you business is sponsored by a venture capitalist or other independent investors, include them in your report as well. If your business enjoys the sponsorship of reputable investors, naturally it adds to your credibility as well. Leasing companies love to provide service for promising businesses in the industry.

Consider several leasing companies.
Get quotes from at least three different leasing companies so you can compare rates and terms. Since leasing companies have their own specializations, it would be better to consider leasing companies that especially caters to your line of business. Remember not just to compare prices, but the terms and conditions of the lese as well.

Arrange for ACH debiting payment system.
This payment system is a coordination between you, your leasing firm, and your bank. This way, your bank can automatically send your lease payments on specific dates straight to your leasing firm. This arrangement is ideal for leases with monthly installments since it prevents delays or skips on your payments.

Read more How to Get Approved For A Construction Equipment Leasing

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August 4, 2009

The Simple Process Of Equipment Leasing

Many businesses are turning to equipment leasing not only to start up a business but to attempt expansion as well. Is it really worth it to lease business equipment? To answer this question, let’s talk about the basic facts of equipment leasing.

Is it better to lease or to loan?
It is true that a business can obtain a loan to get the necessary funding and purchase all equipment needed for business. However, obtaining a loan uses up most of your available credit which you can use for other purposes. In addition, buying equipment ties up your money and it could take a while before you can regain the amount you spent on purchasing those machines. Leasing frees up your available credit and frees up your cash flow as well.

Who can apply for a lease?
Equipment leasing isn’t just for those who lack funding. Any type of business - whether a small enterprise, a home based business, a large company, or even a non-profit organization - that needs equipment or devices can apply for a lease.

How to get a lease?
A business applying for an equipment lease should prepare a written document that contains information about the history of the business, business projections, what the company does and other relevant details. Financial statements and tax returns are also required to process the lease. Don’t forget to include a list of references to back up your credibility as well. These documents will be submitted along with the application form as well as the list of the equipment needed.

Will the leasing company provide the equipment?
The leasing company will not be the one to provide the equipment. Instead, the list of equipment will be submitted to an equipment supplier. The equipment supplier will be the one to deliver the needed equipment to the lessee. Of course, the leasing company takes care of the expenses.

Types of lease
There are different types of lease that leasing companies offer. The terms will depend on the equipment leasing company providing the lease. A lessee has the option to lease the equipment and return them by the end of the lease term or keep the equipment and buy it from the leasing company at a lesser price.

One type of lease is especially designed for newly start-up businesses who may not yet have enough funds to pay for the first few months of the lease. This leasing option is called a “step-up lease” where the business is expected to “step-up” with its deferred payments once it has gained its footing. There are other types of lease which are especially designed to match a business’s financial standing. It is recommended to consider each available lease term before choosing the one that best suits the business.

Can you back out from a lease?
A lease agreement is fixed and not cancelable. However, if there are some problems with the business, the lessee can make arrangements with his leasing firm so that modifications or changes can be made on the lease.

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