Bad Credit and Business Loans

LookingForBusinessLoan.com has been developed with the concept of providing entrepreneurs of all levels with insights into the lending industry. This includes business people, who for one reason or another, do not have the best credit. However, while credit is extremely important in the world of lending – it is not the be all and end all of the lending industry. It is certainly true that having good credit, if not great credit, is an extremely important part of the debt capital raising process. Banks, finance companies, and other lenders are now looking for extremely good credit scores as they make their lending decisions. However, if you have had past credit issues – this should not be a roadblock to your success. As discussed in our previous articles regarding alternative methods of financing and credit scores and business loans, there are a number of options still available to you if you are looking for business loan and other types of business credit facilities.

If you do have bad credit and are looking for a business loan then the first step is to speak to a credit counselor or your CPA. These individuals (or firms) can assist you greatly in removing issues that are hindering the advancement of your credit score. As lending has become a much more scientific process, it is imperative that your issues pertaining to previous lending issues are resolved prior to attempting to obtain credit.

These firms can advise you how to properly clean up your credit report prior to approaching a financial institution or bank. Additionally, there are many other options available to you in your search for capital. As we have discussed previously, angel investors, private investors, and venture capital firms are an excellent source of capital if you cannot raise capital through traditional lending methodologies.

Equipment Secured Business Loans

As has been one of the common themes through our article discussions, banks and finance companies love to provide business loans that are secured by tangible goods such as equipment and real estate. This is, again, because in the event of a credit default they will be able to recoup a majority of their principal by taking possession of the secured property with the intent to resell it. In regards to equipment business loans, there are a number of different avenues that you can take in order to acquire the equipment that you need for your business. In many instances, the equipment seller or manufacturer will have a number of lenders that they can refer you to when you are looking for business loan specifically for equipment purchases. Major corporations and manufacturers often have their own in house financing programs that you can apply for when purchasing large scale equipment. This is especially true for machinery that costs in excess of ,000.

Equipment loans, as compared to traditional loans, are much easier to obtain as there is fully security for the lending party for the equipment they are providing to you. As an alternative to equipment loans – there is the equipment lease. Much like a business loan, you will be required to submit a formal application and you may be required to present a business plan. However, full title for the equipment (should you decide to lease it) remains with the finance company or manufacturer that is providing you with the equipment. Additionally, the full cost of the lease is generally deductible for tax and accounting purposes. This is because you are not purchasing the equipment. In a lease situation, you are paying for the depreciation of the equipment plus an interest rate tied to the depreciation of the equipment.

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.

Business Loans and Business Planning

When looking for a business loan, most financial institutions will require that you have a properly prepared business plan that showcases your business, your usage of business loan funds, the industry in which you are operating within, how you intend or how you will continue to market your business, and the expected financial results of the business over the next three to five years. It is always preferable to have a five year financial projection in your business plan when you are applying for a business loan. As we have discussed through our other articles, banks and finance companies have increased their lending standards significantly, and by providing a full five year financial statement – you will show them a level of seriousness and professionalism that is not often provided by other business people.

As an example format, your business plan for a business loan should be formatted in this manner (this is not a steadfast rule):

Executive Summary
Usage of Debt Funds
Products/Services Offered
Corporate Organization and Management Biographies
Economic, Industry, Customer, and Competitive Analysis
Marketing Plan
Personnel Budgets and Head Count
Financial Plan

In regards to your financial plan, you should have a standard profit and loss statement, common size income statement, cash flow analysis, balance sheet, breakeven analysis, and business ratios page. The sample business plan available on LookingForBusinessLoan.com provides you with all of the tools that you need to draft an appropriate business plan.

As we have stated before, it is very important that your business plan or prepared financial statements are reviewed by a certified public account prior to submitting a business loan application. This individual can ensure that there are no factual or material errors on any of the documents that you have produced or have had a third party produce on your behalf.

Cash Flow Based Business Loans

Much like our discussion regarding unsecured business loans, this article will focus on business loans that are primarily secured by the cash flow of your business or your personal income. When looking for a business loan, it is imperative to understand how much of a business loan you can afford to undertake. This includes not only your current income, but also a projection of your anticipated income that will accrue through the use of debt proceeds. The most important aspect is to look at your current income. This is also the most important business metric that a bank or finance company will look at when determining whether or not you are a worthy credit risk. Actual income is far more important than expected income. With that said, you need to ask yourself some very important questions when determining the amount of debt you are seeking. These questions include, but are not limited to:

What is my current income?
Will my current income fluctuate?
How much do I anticipate that I will earn once I use the proceeds of the business loan?
If this business does not work out, can I afford to continue to pay off the loan given my current income?

When a bank looks at an existing business that is looking for a  business loan – they primarily focus on your businesses previous ability to generate positive cash flow. This is because banks want to know to be well aware of your current ability to repay any business loan that they grant to you. It should be noted, that in most circumstances, your business loan’s interest is deductible as a business expense. However, the principal of the loan is not. This must be paid out of your after-tax cash flow. This is why, especially for small businesses, the cash flow statement is extremely important. Again, if you are having issues making these determinations then it is imperative that you speak to your certified public accountant. Your CPA can assist you greatly in making a determination of your business loan needs, your ability to repay the loan, and your ability to secure a loan based on your current personal and business income.

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.

The Deal with Business Loans from the Bank

There’s nothing more exciting and nerve wracking than starting your own small business. But like most things, getting started will not be simple. Definitely, money will be a big factor. If your small business is starting from scratch, meaning, you’re setting up an office or store, buying merchandise, hiring people, advertising, and marketing, then you’re going to need a relatively good sum of money to do it all. Some people turn to small business loans from the bank, others borrow it from friends, while others look for other lending institutions.

A business loan from the bank involves a lot of things. A lot of preparation goes into a small business loan request from the bank, and it often requires a plenty of background checks on your personal financial history. The bank, like any other lending institution, has to factor-in you’re the risks involved before approving a small business loan. In order for them to determine interest rates and period of payments for your business loan, they will have to take a look at several factors:

(1) How much is your annual income? This is a staple question for business loan requests.

(2) What are your revenue-making strategies for your business? Most banks don’t care what your business is, as long as you give them a clear picture of how you’ll be making profits to pay them back.

(3) How’s your credit history? This is a crucial deal for small business loan, or any type of loan. Your credit history your track record of how you’ve repaid loans, credit card bills, and other debts in the past, will be used as a guide for giving you that business loan. If you have a bad history with credit card services, then the chances of getting approved will be bleak.

If you think the answers to these questions look bad for your, then maybe a small business loan from a bank is not for you. Maybe the alternative would suit you better.

Cash Advance- money lent: a loan given in cash, especially by an employer or credit card company, in anticipation of the borrower’s being able to repay it.

A business cash advance is a easier way to get a small business loan. The premise behind this loan is similar to that of an open-end credit loan. Open-end credit loans are loans for variable amounts of money up to a set limit. Unlike closed-end loans, open-end credit does not require a borrower to specify the purpose of the loan and the lender cannot foreclose on the loan. So if you’re business makes use of credit card services, then you’ll be very much qualified. A business loan through cash advance doesn’t require collateral but have fixed interest rates and will charge fees and penalties for certain situations like late payment or if you don’t manage to pay in full (if agreed upon).

The minimum amount for most lenders is ,500. The maximum can go as high as you can negotiate it to be. In order to get this alternative business loan, you have to have been employed or in business for at least a year; you are of legal age; and you or your business makes use of credit card services. This special business loan is available online, and transactions can be done online as well. The waiting period for a business cash advance can take from 24 to 72 hours. The money will automatically be transferred to your account upon approval of the cash advance.

Having bad credit history or financial track record shouldn’t keep you from that small business loan. All you have to do is look at the alternative.