Creative Financing For Small Businesses

January 14th, 2012 by admin No comments »

Creative financing is an interesting concept that has many business owners wondering how it could work for them. Many business owners are still not aware of the non-traditional financing methods that are taking the place of traditional bank loans or are working in conjunction with banking institutions. Some of these creative financing methodologies are not loans. They cannot be accessed through traditional financing sources based on their conceptual makeup. The conceptual makeup of some of these options could include the use of your creditworthy clients, government contracting capabilities, current paper or tangible assets, or even the use of your future expected payments.

When small business owners can look “outside the box” to get the financial assistance that they need, this creates a win-win-win situation. A lot of creative options require a banking institution be involved but do not necessary require them to be a part of the process. When these financing options are used effectively, many small business owners, and even large corporations, usually see the benefit.

Banking Risk Tolerance

It is often said that “Banks are not lending”. This is not true. Banks are in the business of lending. Without completed loan transactions, banks would go out of business. The issue you face, as a business owner, is the banks’ tight lending practices, especially in today’s tight lending market. When this affects you negatively, the simple truth is that you and your business do not fit that particular bank’s lending model or their level of “Risk Tolerance”. Banks are averse to risking their capital.

Conservative lending institutions such as banks will not risk their money to support your venture. Your venture or business must show sustainability in advance. This will make that lender happy to loan you money.

Creative Financing Solutions

This financing model varies across a number of sectors and is not contained in its lending practices like traditional institutions. Creative financing solutions develop based on a demand or the need to solve a financial issue for a large group. When business owners are denied access to capital through the banking sector, not everyone will give up on their dream of moving their business forward or be satisfied simply surviving through economic hardship.

Creative financing sources address the demand for access to capital in a variety of ways. These options are usual provided and operated by private companies. Many have private investors who prefer these types of investment avenues. These solutions go across all types of business sectors including medical, construction, food, manufacturing, government, and more. When a business owner seeks out this kind of financing, the success factor is dependent on the industry, payment sources, customer or client’s credit report and score, current contracts and much more.
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Best Business Locations And Expanding Business Overseas

January 8th, 2012 by admin No comments »

BEST BUSINESS LOCATIONS

The best business location for a company will vary enormously depending on the nature of the company and its business. Each individual business will have its own set of priorities and these should shape the final investment decision. To make the best location decision requires a real understanding of which location factors are most important to the company. To apply that properly the company then has to have access to a huge amount of information and intelligence about individual locations.

The range of factors include – Infrastructure; access to road/motorway networks, railway, ports and most importantly for many foreign investors, international airports. Labour skills and availability is normally a crucial factor – there is no point in locating in an area where costs are low and incentives are high if its difficult to recruit the skills needed in the business.

Even when the choice of country has been made there is a huge variety of potential locations available. Without in depth knowledge of what candidate areas and cities can offer it would be easy to come to a less than ideal solution. Once an investment decision is made it is extremely difficult and costly to change. Making the right decision in the first place will maximise productivity and profitability. In looking for the best business location a company is well advised to really understand and investigate all the potential solutions available.

Bottom line is that the best business location for one company is going to be very different to that for another.

EXPANDING A BUSINESS OVERSEAS

For foreign companies considering setting up business in a new country there are two important initial “feel good” tests. These are made consciously or sub consciously about individual locations in the country.

The first is ” do they really want us here”. No company really wants to commit an investment to an area which is less than enthusiastic in their welcome. Much easier and more comfortable to go somewhere else.

The second is that foreign companies know they are going to need a great deal of local assistance to make their operation work properly. “Hand holding” in terms of advice on local business customs, introductions to suppliers and contractors etc depends on the willingness and ability of the local economic development agency. If a company feels the agency is anything other than totally committed and capable of helping then it may well locate elsewhere even if that decision is sub optimal.

In both these cases it is the Impression created by the economic development agency that is critical to the perception of the location by the company.

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By Reem Elfeitury