Business Financing Alternatives

When faced with financial challenges, most businessbecomes even more problematic when you need to
owners try to raise capital by going to the bank orpay rent, employees and taxes regularly. Invoice
trying to find investors. Although banks and investorsfactoring allows you to finance your business using
may be a suitable source of capital for someyour invoices as collateral. Usually, you can get up to
businesses, the majority of business owners come85% of the gross value of your invoices advanced
out empty handed.to you as soon as you deliver your products and
Bankers are notoriously conservative when makingservices. As opposed to loans and lines of credit,
loan decisions. Unless your business can show that itfactoring has no artificial high limits. The amount of
has significant assets and can demonstrate threefinancing is directly related to your invoicing. The
years of profitability, it usually won't qualify for amore you invoice, the more financing you qualify for.
business loan or a line of credit. Finding investorsPurchase Order Financing
(whether angel funders or venture capitalists) is evenDo you own a wholesale, re-seller or distribution
more challenging. And those that are successful incompany? What would you do if you received a
finding investors always have to give up a significantlarge purchase order? An order that you can't afford
stake of their ownership before seeing a penny.to fulfill. Your best option is to use purchase order
So, are there any alternatives?financing to fulfill it. With purchase order financing, the
If you own a business that sells products or servicesfinance company takes care of paying your suppliers
to other businesses you have two financing(usually with a letter of credit) and ensuring proper
alternatives. Both are easy to qualify for and do notshipment and delivery to the customer. Once the
require that you give up any ownership. The maincustomer pays the invoice, the transaction is settled
requirement is that you have a business with solidand you receive the remaining proceeds.
growth prospects and that you provide productsBoth factoring and purchase order financing allow you
services to good paying commercial customers.to finance your growing business without giving away
Invoice Factoringequity and without having to go through the
Do your customers take 30 to 60 days to pay theirchallenges of bank financing. These tools are available
invoices? If you are like most business owners,to new and established companies alike and the main
waiting to be paid can be a big challenge. Thisrequirement is that the company has solid prospects.