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BALANCE SHEET ENHANCEMENT LOANS

Written by: Jayson Curuso

Article Overview: Why not take a step outside of the box and find a more legal but creative way to qualify your small and medium size business for debt or equity financing. The balance sheet loan is but one of several ways you can go about qualifying your company for a loan. I will be listing more in articles to come. How about a loan where you do not have to start making payments until two to three years after you receive the funds? I will list that one in my next article. Stay tuned to my articles

BALANCE SHEET ENHANCEMENT LOANS

Business Balance Sheet and Escrow Loans

Learn to think about money the way a banker does - as a bookkeeping entry –
and get your balance sheet to work for you.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if one's business could create net worth just like a bank? With an
accommodating financial institution and a little creativity on the part of the business owner, it is
possible. The case history that follows shows how small businesses can use these methods to get the
financial help they need. The names were changed but the following examples are real live
transactions undertaken by our company (consultant).

William Ballast is the owner of a wholesale distribution company. When one of his suppliers
announces a gigantic inventory sale, Ballast is eager to take advantage of it. He knows that if
he can increase his inventory with goods at the lower price, his average unit cost will be lower
and profits would increase accordingly.

Balance Sheet Debt Financing
Ballast calls a financial consultant to discuss his problem. Ballast is advised to
submit a current Balance sheet reflecting higher cash assets to obtain a more favorable line or
credit from the wholesaler. Although Ballast favors such a move, he also wants to avoid a long
term debt commitment. He fears that the interest payments from such a debt would wipe out any
gains made by buying the additional inventory on sale. The consultant explains that the assets are
placed as equity not debt, which pleases him even more.

Step 1: Owner accepts a equity investment in the form cash or cash equivalents provide by
the investor. The assets placed in a Money Market fund and/or investment account in the name
of the company. After the funds are deposited, the company will have a new balance sheet
Prepared according to accepted accounting practices, which will reflect its increased liquidity.
With the stronger financial picture presented, the supplier is likely to be more favorably disposed
toward extending the line of credit. Ballast is convinced that this is a sound approach and enters
into an agreement to implement the plan whereby the funds would be provided by a investor
supplied by his consultant. The consultant explains to Ballast, now that he has the increased
liquidity on his balance sheet, he will also be able to obtain a line of credit for working capital
which will allow him to hire additional personnel to help with the additional inventory. The next
paragraph explains how Ballast can get his working capital.

Step 2: Ballast receives an increased supplier line of credit. Based on the updated balance sheet, the supplier increases the line of credit for Ballast's company. After the new credit line is established, and he receives his inventory, he needed additional capital to handle the added work load. He can now use the inventory to obtain a floating line of credit from a lender. The cost of the program was kept to a minimum and the desired funding is realized generating a win-win
proposition.

Step3: Ballast will need additional capital to handle the added inventory. Ballast now has a strong
balance sheet that he can take to a lender for a revolving line of credit or term loan. Since
the inventory is not fully owned by Ballast, the lender might need additional collateral.
The consultant will arrange to have a Money Market account opened up in the name of the
lender and pledge assets from Ballast’s account to secure any liability on the loan, the lender
is happy to make the loan because it is a “wash” transaction. Off -balance sheet account, yes! It
is a legal transaction, ask your friendly CPA, “Never ask an Attorney.”

Using Escrow Loans to Purchase Commercial Property
Robert Jensen knows of a valuable parcel of land that he believes could be profitably developed.
If he could get an option on the property, he could organize a highly successful joint venture to
develop the land. Jensen is afraid that if he doesn't act quickly, someone else will buy the land from under him. He needs time to secure funding for the option and line up partners for his joint venture.

Step 1: Secure Option on Land. Jensen convinces the landowner to give him 90 days to raise the
total purchase price of US $2million. In order to hold the land for 90 days, Jensen needs to show
10 percent in an escrow account as a demonstration of his good faith and financial strength.

Step 2: Working with the Consultant, an investor is introduced and agrees to put up the $200,000
to “show” as a good faith deposit After the account is opened, the company provides Jensen with
documents showing that the monies are on deposit. The escrow company then writes a series
of letters indicating the steps being taken to assure the successful completion of the transaction.
this satisfies the seller and gives Jensen time to put his investment group together.

Step 3: Mr. Jensen forms joint venture Limited Partnership with his company being the general
partner. Potential investors approached by Jensen are excited by the project and are especially
impressed by the fact that Jensen has already secured an option on the land and put up $200,000.00
of his own monies. They agree to fund the project with Jensen as equity partner and project
manager. Jensen contributes his option.

Step 4: Substitute New Escrow Account. The joint venture then opens a new escrow account for
US$ 200,000 and substitutes it for the one originally opened by Jensen. The old account is closed
The funds in the original escrow, having served their purpose, are returned to the investor.

As a result of the above transaction, Jensen now holds substantial equity in a commercial real estate development worth several million dollars. His only costs up front were a few points for the use of the assets, the escrow account, and the supporting documents that went to the various interested parties.

The financial and banking world has changed in terms of small businesses being able to obtain any
type funding (debt or equity). The sooner the small business entrepreneur learn to turn to more
creative and non-conventional means of going after financing for his project, the sooner he will be
successful in obtaining financing. The above examples are fairly simple and one-hundred percent
legal transactions and will work every any day of the year. But you will not find it listed your
friendly college accounting/business courses, thus is the term “think outside of the box”.
If the reader can learn to think about money the way a banker thinks of it - as a bookkeeping entry - then he can get his balance sheet to work for him.

Related Articles
  Commercial Financing: The Benefits of Off-Balance-Sheet Financing
  Are Working Capital Loans What Your Company Really Needs? What Type Of Finance Company Can Help?
  Financial Report: Reading the Balance Sheet for Making an Investment Decision
  What Most Business Owners Dont Know But Need to About Business Financing
  COMPENSATING BALANCE LOANS FOR BUSINESS/REAL ESTATE

Article Tags: financial, funding, loans



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