Cash flow is essential to the life of any business, large or small. In simple terms, the proper allocation of cash resources makes it easier for a business to flourish.
However, when revenue generation is at a lull, a business may need to seek funding options to ensure steady growth without interruption. Luckily, these days, there are many quick financing options available to businesses (thanks to the internet, there’s so much “more” than your local bank). The funding can be used for purchasing, refinancing, business expansion, or for any other development purpose.
Traditional Methods
Depending on the size and type of business, peer-to-peer and personal loans may be practical. There is a plethora of resources on the web if personal contacts do not suffice. Another traditional loan option is through a bank – however, institutionalized loans can take anywhere from weeks to months to process. It may also be difficult to obtain one of these (banks are fairly rigid in this respect.)
Secured & Unsecured Loans
Other types of loans are “low rate” business loans, which come both secured and unsecured. Unsecured loans do not require collateral but may charge a higher interest rate. Secured loans are issued with the lowest rate of interest determined against a valuable asset the businessman owns (the collateral). Depending on the value of said collateral, the loan amount is determined. Business owners with poor credit may also qualify, but with a higher interest rate. In the case of non-repayment, the loan issuer gains the right to sell off the collateral.
Factoring
Invoice Factoring may be an option for companies that have clients with pending termed invoices. Instead of waiting for the terms of payment, the business can “factor” the invoices, receiving payment from a funding source in as little as two days. The invoices then become an instant capital source.
Purchase Order Financing is another great option for resellers and wholesalers. Purchase order financing provides instant funds necessary to pay off suppliers through a letter of credit. This allows a company to fulfill its supply requirements and move forward to selling to its own customers.
Equipment Financing
In recent years, Equipment Leasing and Equipment Financing has become a booming industry in itself. Through the leasing and/or financing of equipment, businesses can slowly pay for expensive equipment over time, allowing them to hold onto valuable cash resources. By leasing, business profit can grow without the burden of debt. There is also a myriad of benefits to equipment leasing and financing, including tax benefits, specialized product selection/maintenance, and more.
Online loan and financing providers are constantly competing for your business. The online application has evolved a great deal over the past years, allowing for better rates and speedier processing time for the funding seeker. This may be a viable resource for those searching for a way to quickly acquire funding for their business operations.