A Faster Way to Get Small Business Loans

It is not easy for small businesses to get small business loans. Banks and other lenders require them to go through strict and complicated financial procedures with stringent requirements for qualification. After everything, credit approval is not even guaranteed.

Even the financing for loans supported by the Small Business Administration (SBA) cannot meet the needs of the majority of small businesses. Although the amount of credit available for small businesses has reportedly been increased by 25% since March this year, it is not that easy to avail of the said small business loans.

Small businesses seeking small business loans should know how to prepare the right kind of business plans that banks are looking for. To justify the loan, they should be able to show the banks in detail how they intend to use the money in business and how viable their plan is. Experts say lenders have specific points which they scrutinize applications for and applicants should know these points and tailor their submitted business plans accordingly.

It is also said that loan applicants should first establish a strong relationship with the lending bank in order to increase the possibility of having a loan approved. Banks supposedly give more small business loans to businesses they have already known and trusted long term. Since small businesses are usually new businesses, this is quite difficult to do and it cannot be done in a hurry. How can a new small business with financial needs establish a good long term relationship with a bank in time to meet its current needs?

Another requirement of lending institutions from small businesses applying for small business loans is a good credit history score.  A small business should first be deemed credit worthy by the bank before it can even be considered for loan approval. Again, small businesses that are stll young are at an immediate disadvantage here. How can they establish credit worthiness in time?

The US Congress has also placed Congressional restrictions on eligibility for the Small Business Administration loans. Small businesses first have to prove that they are at least two years old and are both struggling and viable at the same time. They should present proof that they have had a positive cash flow in one of those previous two years in business. They should, however, be currently struggling with “immediate financial hardship” with a decrease in income that should not be less than 20 percent. At the same time, they should submit their projections for cash flow for the next two years, proving that they will be able to meet loan payments.

A faster way to get small business loans would be through credit card services.

Any small business should have credit card services. Credit card services enable a company to accept customer payments for goods and services via credit cards or debit cards, whether over the counter in brick and mortar settings, through the phone or online. Credit card services provide the hardware and software for this.

Being able to accept payments through credit cards or debit cards can greatly enhance a small business’ income earning potentials. In addition to that, credit card services can provide the equivalent of small business loans with no need for any collateral. The amount of the small business loans are computed based on the average monthly income of the small business from credit card payments. The small business loans are then amortized through automatic monthly deductions of a certain percentage from the small business’ future credit card revenue. This means small businesses can almost automatically qualify for small business loans through credit card services, and will surely be able to pay such small business loans. Is there a faster way than this?

Alternatives to Traditional Business Loans

 

If you find that you are having difficult when looking for a business loan then there are a number of different potential funding avenues that you may want to investigate. In fact, you may want to investigate these alternative financing methods even prior to beginning the business loan application process.

 

In regards to obtaining debt financing, the alternative to this in general is that you could seek to raise capital from angel investors or a venture capital firm. These companies specialize in making equity investments into companies that have substantial growth potential. However, unlike a business loan, an equity investor will require that you sell shares of your business to the individual or investment firm. Additionally, many professional investors will want a substantial say in regards to the direction of the company, and they will want to sit on the board of directors.

 

Another alternative to a traditional business loan is a business line of credit, which much like a business loan, can be secured by real property that you already own. If you do not require one lump sum of capital in order to launch of expand your operations then it may be in your best interest to secure a line of credit that you can drawn down as needed. Much like a business loan, a formal business plan, personal financial statements, credit checks, and collateral checks will be required to secure this type of financing.

 

If you are already in business, you can also obtain a cash advance on your accounts receivables or credit card receivables based on your monthly volume. However, these business loans usually carry very high interest rates as they are secured ultimately by your customers’ ongoing ability to you. This is often referred to as factoring, and this method of obtaining a business loan or line of credit is really only appropriate if you operate a capital intensive business.

Incorporation and Business Loans

There is a common misconception that simply having a corporation can absolve you from liability regarding business loans acquired for your business. This could not be less true. In today’s lending environment, most banks and finance companies will require a full personal guarantee before providing you with a business loan or other type of business credit facility. In fact, most SBA loans (as well as conventional business loans) require that the small business owner provide a personal guarantee for any credit undertaken by business that is closely held to the owner.

 

As your business continues to expand with a profitable operating history, the demand among banks for personal guarantees will lessen. However, this is not always the case. Many established entrepreneurs that have sought business loans have also come across the issue of having to put up personal assets (primarily residences) in order to secure business loans and business lines of credit for their companies. This trend is expected to continue for sometime as banks and finance companies have tightened lending standards in the wake of substantial losses incurred due to the poor housing market over the past three years.

 

With this in mind, it is important to select a corporate entity that will assist you in developing the business credit that you will need in the future for securing a business loan solely in the name of your business. There are many different forms of business entities to chose from including corporations (both C and S corporations), limited partnerships, limited liability companies, and limited liability partnerships.

 

Prior to incorporating your business, you should speak to a duly licensed attorney and a certified public accountant to determine which corporate structure works best with your personal financial situation. When looking for business loan, it is important to note that the corporate structure you chose will most likely flow onto your personal income statement in regards to tax filing matters. As such, proper advice should always be sought when making this very important decision.

Credit Card Services and Business Loans for the Small Business

To achieve financial independence, experts encourage even currently employed individuals to consider entrepreneurship. Setting up your own business, no matter how small, is touted as one of the best ways toward building the foundation for wealth. Those who are concerned about having a safety net need not take the plunge recklessly. One can start setting up a small business even while employed.  

Of crucial use to small businesses are credit card services and small business loans. The entrepreneur needs to know how to avail of these tools and how to effectively wield them for maximum business growth.

Credit Card Services

A small business would do well to get reputable credit card services in order to prosper in the current business climate. Availing of credit card services will enable it to accept both credit card and debit card payments. This is true either for brick-and-mortar businesses or internet based online businesses. After all, most consumers nowadays routinely use credit cards or debit cards for payment purposes. It only makes good business sense to be well-equipped for the needs of credit card users and debit card users as well as for the needs of customers who pay in cash.

Merchant services provide credit card services covering a wide range of solutions for the processing of credit cards and debit cards as payment options. These credit card services include traditional terminal equipment at point of sale, where credit cards or debit cards are swiped. It also includes software and high speed IP solutions for both traditional commerce and e-commerce. Credit card and debit card payments can, therefore, be accepted in person or through the internet, by phone or by fax.     

Small Business Loans

Any business – whether a small start-up business, a medium-scaled one or a big business company – will be needing an infusion of additional capital sooner or later. Additional capital is always needed for expansion, additional inventory, additional manpower, new systems, new equipment or a new physical layout.

Capital is not always easy to come by, though. The original investors’ personal coffers may have been emptied by the earlier outlays. Prospective investors may not be keen on shelling out funds in times of crisis. Businesses, therefore, have no choice but to seek business loans.

Getting business loans is a difficult process. Even small business loans are not readily approved. Be prepared to present a lot of documentation and paperwork. For small business loans, the proprietor’s personal credit history is taken into account and related references need to be submitted. Of course, the company’s financial statements are just as important in proving the feasibility of the business and its capacity to repay its business loans. Having a detailed business plan will show your business strategies and projections, demonstrating your business acumen.

Unfortunately, even with all the requirements completed, applications for business loans – including small business loans – are, more often than not, disapproved.

Solutions

Some merchant services provide a comprehensive solution for the needs of small businesses in relation to credit card services and small business loans. The set up is elegantly simple. A small business need only avail of the company’s credit card services to be eligible for merchant cash advances. These cash advances are actually small business loans, except that there is no need to go through the complicated application process for business loans. Repayment is made very easy and worry-free, too. A certain small percentage is built into the credit card processing rates to take care of the advances. This way, repayment is actually done automatically in a very affordable manner and according to income flow.

Small business owners would, indeed, be wise to look into these timely business solutions.

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