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Is Your Company In A Constant Whirligig On Business Cash Flow & Working Capital Funding Challenges ?
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| Guest post by: Stan Prokop |
Article Overview: Information on business cash flow and funding working capital in Canada. Measuring the problem and address it via real world solutions .
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Is Your Company In A Constant Whirligig On Business Cash Flow & Working Capital Funding Challenges ?
Boy do we love a good term when we see one.
Whirligig. It’s the definition for a '
whirling or circling course of events '.
Don't business owners often feel they are in a constant whirligig of
business cash flow challenges - always looking for funding for working capital
as their business grows? They certainly are always telling us that.
Let's examine some ways to both measure and address working
capital and cash flow shortages. Our primary focus is on the SME (small to
medium enterprise) sector of business in Canada. We should note that larger
corporations have access to more sophisticated working capital solutions that
include unsecured cash flow loans and mezzanine debt provide by Chartered banks,
private equity firms, and specialized commercial financing companies in Canada .There are even some hedge funds in Canada
offering this type of working capital solution.
The cash flow lending offered by these firms to
larger companies is based on multiples of cash flow and profits, not utilizing
the actual asses of the firm as first position secured collateral. Suffice to
say that interest rates on these types of loans are very attractive but at the
same time come with rigorous credit and size criteria that of course SME sector
firms simply can’t meet.
SME firms are focused on more mundane issues, reducing their payables, purchasing more inventories,
and meeting employee obligations. When actual working capital runs low of course
our whirligig kicks in! It’s the constant battle to replenish working capital.
Working capital for your business consists of your cash
on hand, your borrowing ability, and of course receivables and inventory.
The rudimentary way that those textbook guys and
accountants calculate working capital is to divide current assets by current
liabilities on your balance sheet .We've never really like this calculation because
it doesn’t truly reflect the flow of funds in an out of your business . (A calculation
called the operating cash flow calc does this much better). For instance if
your sales are flat or slowing down and your receivables and inventory are
building up your working capital current ration calc is higher, but the reality
is that your real cash flow is getting worse . And that's a problem.
Working capital solutions in Canada are available but they are
somewhat more limited in nature than many Canadian business owners and
financial managers think. Business lines
of credit to cover business cash flow for start ups or small businesses rely heavily
on the business owners personal assets. Canada’s crown bank corporation
offers working capital term loans, but significant
emphasis is placed on owner equity and cash flow ratios.
The real world solutions available in Canada
in 2011 for funding business cash flow are as follows; sale leaseback of some
of your assets, Chartered bank lines of credit, accounts receivable financing
facilities, non bank asset based
lending facilities (they combine your A/R and inventory and equipment into one
business line of credit). Many Canadian firms utilize various tax credits which
can also be monetized into cash flow and working capital liquidity.
Speak to a trusted, experienced, and credible
Canadian business financing advisor on how you can avoid the whirligig of
Canadian business cash flow. In today’s competitive environment you ability to
survive is based strongly on d ensuring your working capital life blood is
healthy.
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About the Author: Stan Prokop RSS for Stan's articles - Visit Stan's website Stan Prokop is the founder of 7 Park Avenue Financial . The firm specializes in business financing for Canadian companies in the areas of working capital , asset based lending, SR & ED tax credit financing, equipment financing, franchise financing and banking .
Click here to visit Stan's website Asset Based Loans and Cash Flow Factoring and Financing Alternatives in Canada The Best Tools and Resources for Equipment Finance and Asset Lease Success A Canadian Leasing Equipment How To Methods Of Financing Working Capital In Canada Current Assets Leverage For Cash Flow Loans 2 And Trying Harder Why Canadian Business Accounts Receivable Financing Is Your Cash Flow Solution What Type Of Start Up Business Financing Loans Are Available For A Canadian Company Startup Loan Info |
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