Tweet

Working Capital Loans and Financing Canada

Guest post by: Stan Prokop

Article Overview: Information on how Canadian firms can assess their working capital needs. Types of facilities available for financing consideration. Do you really need such a loan?

Working Capital Loans and Financing Canada

Working Capital Loans and Financing is a term that has different meanings to Canadian business owners and financial managers. One of the most popular (we actually feel it's the best) loans for small and medium sized businesses in Canada is a loan commonly known as the Government SBL, or Small Business Loan. The essence of this loan is great rates, terms and structures - i.e. 3% over prime, nominal personal guarantees and re payment terms of 5-7 years.



Sounds great, right? Yes, we agree. But many business owners seeking working capital loans are dismayed when we tell them that the program only finances three things and it's many times not the three things they are looking for. They are looking for Cash! The program only finances equipment, leaseholds, and real estate.



Working Capital loans are actually available from what people consider traditional sources. One of the Crown Corporations within the Canadian government actually focuses very significantly on cash working capital loans. These loans are structured as term loans, have fairly competitive rates, and repayment terms of 5 to 6 years. They are also unsecured, which means they rank behind and senior lender or security you might have in place. The only commitment to repay is the guarantee of the company as a promise to pay, and a full or partial guarantee by the owners personally. We point out that the majority of business loans and financing in Canada does in effect require some level of guarantees from the owner.

A great way to address why your Canadian firm requires working capital loans and financing is to address the root of the issue, which is to fully understand your receivable and inventory requirements. Those are the key drivers of any working capital need. The holy grail of working capital is when you can grow your business, reduce inventories and turn them faster, and increase receivable collections. Increasing a/r collections either via more efficient methods of collection, of selling your receivables as you generate them ( that's called invoice discounting or factoring ) is the most optimal way to generate working capital financing .



Naturally the challenge in doing all that is to ensure you can still maintain your projected sales and profit growth.



If your company has a significant inventory investment at all times you can obtain direct loans in Canada against that inventory. Bank financing traditionally is the route many larger and established businesses take when they required working capital for inventory purchases. However when your firm can't qualify for the full extent of financing that you need then a direct inventory working capital loan is best.



Our recommended working capital loan is actually not a loan that adds additional debt to your balance sheet. It's a facility which margins your receivables and inventory to proper market valuations. This generates the additional cash flow and working capital you are looking for, and, as importantly, doesn't add debt to the balance sheet.



The best way to generate your own working capital loan to your firm is to improve collections and delay payments to suppliers. The latter must be done carefully of coruse, so as not to mis manage vital supplier relationships. However, clearly it's every man for him in business financing, so you should focus on negotiation the best payment terms you can with valued suppliers who will usually extend solid payment terms when they see you as a viable and long term customer.

So whats our bottom line summary on working capital loans and financing in Canada. It's simply that you might not necessarily need a true loan and in fact should be accessing your working capital accounts such as inventory and receivables for financing. But true working capital loans are available in Canada - work with a trusted credible advisor to find a solution that meets your needs.

Related Articles
  Working Capital Financing
  Working Capital Financing Canada – For Sales and Growth
  Finding Information on Small Business Loans
  Working Capital Loans – Cash Flow Business Financing Canada
  Working Capital Financing – Commercial Financing Solutions
  Working Capital Financing – Canadian Corporate Financing Solutions
  Sources of Financing for Working Capital Cash flow in Canada
  Alternative Financing in Canada and others
  Imagine! Canadian Accounts Receivable Loans That Work – Financing Receivables The Right Way
  SBL Loans In Canada. Degree In Rocket Science Not Required For The Canadian Small Business Loan
  Working Capital Financing Loans Canada
  Toronto Working Capital Financing
  Working Capital Business Financing Sources
  Canadian Franchise Financing – Made in Canada Solutions!
  12 Types of Business Financing in Canada - Which Do You Need? Commercial Loans & Cash Flow Finance
  Preparing For Financing Accounts Receivables in Canada - AR & Contract Finance Must Knows!
  Working Capital Financing Ideas You Hadn’t Even Thought Of !
  Trucking and Transportation factoring in Canada
  Franchise Financing In Canada – Three Things You Need To Know
  Methods Of Financing Working Capital In Canada – Current Assets Leverage For Cash Flow Loans

Article Tags: working capital financing canada, working capital loans Canada



Related Forum Posts
New Small Business Topic - Hello everyone, I'm on the lookout for new topics to add to my site. We just launched a Franchising section and are planning Human Resources section. Do you have any thoughts for a new section? Here's a list of what we currently have: Angel Investors Branding Bank Loans Business Coaching Business Plan Franchises (New) Insurance Legal Marketing Public Relations Sales Small Biz Loans Venture Capital
grants for restaurants - Well friend I don’t have any idea about government grants for restaurants, but I will recommend that you may try on some banks who offer loans for small business where the government will have some guarantee. Beside that Restaurants business is very risky so some of banks who gave some Financing Loans they will look at on it if there is enough solid business plans.
How to valuate a business - Hi Garth - here is how we did it at Northern Crown Capital when I was helping them raise venture capital for Toronto-based entrepreneurs. Assume the start date is 2003 so 2008 projections are 5 years out: How Northern Crown Capital Valuates a Business 2008 Financial Projections Earnings Before Tax $5,865,000 Tax Rate 42% Taxes $2,463,300 Net Earnings $3,401,700 Amount Seeking to Raise Today $3,500,000 Discounted Value of Future Opportunity, 5 Years Out 2008 P/E Ratio 15 Value of Company in 2008 $51,025,500 Discount Rate Applied 30% Year 2008 $51,025,500 Year 2007 $35,717,850 Year 2006 $25,002,495 Year 2005 $17,501,747 Year 2004 $12,251,223 Value of Company at Investment in 2003 $12,251,223 Less: Investment Amount $3,500,000 Present Value $8,751,223 Discount for Risk & Private Company 40% Less: Discount for Risk & Private Company $3,500,489 Private Company Value $5,250,734 Present Value (What the Owner Keeps) $5,250,734 60.00% Financing (What the Investor Gets) $3,500,000 40.00% Total $8,750,734 100.00% I hope this helps!
Re: What is Your Favorite Thing About Owning A Business? - [quote="freddyb45":1t3lpfi8]For me it's the fact that all the time and effort you put in is worth a lot more, due to it making you "business" more profitable. Working for yourself is also a positive, although employing people you can trust is quite different.[/quote:1t3lpfi8] I like this idea. Working for yourself means you are investing in your own future, not someone else's, although there is value in working for someone else first to gain experience and confidence. Working for yourself does not automatically mean success, fame and fortune. For most entrepreneurs, it takes much work and dedication to get to the point of financial success and comfort - sometimes years. But the benefit is, again, you know you are investing in yourself and building equity for your own future. GT :-]
Accessing the Canadian Market - Leo, an idea that came to mind is try to align yourself with Hispanic Organizations in Canada. This will build your credibility within communities and get more referrals. Not sure if you plan on being based in Canada or operate your business from Columbia but either way being in the web development arena allows you to work from anywhere. You can also search for opportunities originating from Canada thru elance.com, getafreelancer.com, freelance.com or rentacoder.com


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.

Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!

Name:
Email:

Popular Articles

Adapting to Technology and the Internet

Listen to Your Inner Melody

Starting a Business a Brave Move or a NoBrainer

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.