While running a business you may need additional funds for a number of reasons like- starting or expanding your business, purchasing or refinancing equipments, cope up with certain unexpected or unscheduled expenses or restructuring your balance sheet. A loan provides probably the most appropriate solution to meet all your financial needs.

A loan is an agreement in which a lender agrees to lend a sum of money to a borrower, and in return, the borrower agrees to repay the money with interest, in a due course of time. A small business loan allows you to apply for a loan amount ranging from £1,000 to £250,000 for a term of 1 to 5 years.

Loans are very flexible and can be structured to meet all your needs. The loan amount can be used for almost any purpose including paying off current debt to avoid higher interest rates, short repayment term, or pending balloon payment.

Loans allow you to retain the ownership of your company and attain funds whenever required. In case of a small business loan, the lender is only entitled to an interest return on its loan and not a percentage of the profits or a share in the company. Also if you decided to take a loan against any of your equipments you remain the legal owner of those equipments.

A small business loan gives you access to funds with a nominal up-front payment and the flexibility to design a loan schedule that suits your needs. Loan schedules allow you to easily plan the repayment of the loan amount as per your convenience and retain your cash flow in a good condition. By refinancing most of your assets, real estate, commercial equipment and vehicles, to arrange for a loan; you may free up your cash flow for other urgent needs.

Small business loans also offer you the benefit of making tax deductible repayments against the loan amount. But even after all these benefits; a borrower must consider the effects of a loan on your cash flow and assets.

Thus, Small businesses are main part of our economy and loans provided to them will cover their financial needs. Borrowers can apply for these loans anytime they feel trapped in their financial problems. These loans provide financial support system and assist you to fulfill your dreams.

Obtaining finance is central for starting a new business or making business grow. Financing a business through business loans can be a formidable task. But a good preparation can easily sort out any matter detrimental to getting your business loans approved. Taking a loan for business is an important decision. A business loans borrower must understand that while taking loans can help a business grow, a wrong decision will mean debt and actually damage financial stability of a business. Determine how much loan amount you require as business loans. There are different business loans products to decide from.

A well thought out business plan is the most significant part of getting a business loans approved. The business plan should have projection. Don’t go into details, a concise to the point executive summary which answers all the queries of a business loans, will gain easy acceptance. If you have an established business – financial statement, cash flow for the past three years will be required.

When
Business Loans application is reviewed, some of the following questions might come up in one version or the other.

o How much loan do you require?

o What about business profits, does it have enough cash flow, to service the debt?

o Is there collateral to cover the loan?

o Is there a reasonable balance between debt and equity?

Business loans lender would pay much emphasis on your repayment ability. He would like to know if you have invested your own money in the business. He would not be very interested in taking risk in a venture where the business owner has not.

For business loans it is important to know your credit history. The business loans lender will undeniably go through your credit history. Go through your recent credit history and find out faults and recent credit discrepancies. If there are inconsistencies, get them removed. A credit history that is questionable will most likely not get business loans. However, if you attach a letter explaining your credit conduct can evoke a favourable response. The worst mistake will be to hiding your faults. This will most certainly reject an otherwise encouraging business loans application.

Few people realize it but locating a good business loans lender is integral to finding business loans. It is not easy to find business loans lender that abides by your needs. In fact it is an investment in itself. Look for business loans lender who is willing to work with you and for you.

Business loans also depend on your character and your ability to be present yourself, your business details and your confidence. They also count in getting your business loans accepted. In case business loans application is rejected – make sure you know the reason why this happened. This will enable you to rectify mistakes next time you make attempt to get business loans.

Collateral is chief ingredient for business loans. Secured business loans will require collateral and greatly add to the business loans application. Business loans without collateral are unsecured business loans. They are usually difficult to find. But unsecured business loans will only satisfy small financing needs.

Business loans are available for most financing needs. Business loans can be used for starting a business, refinancing, expanding your business, purchase of equipments or any other commercial investment. Insufficient business funds are one of the leading causes of business failure.

Author: Natasha Anderson
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But when this nest egg begins to decrease and your venture just hasn’t taken off, how do you remain current on all of the financial obligations? Do you consider obtaining additional financing or is debt relief counseling a better solution?

First of all, it is time to review what types of loans are being offered and which type you may already have. Every bank, savings and loan and credit union has a somewhat bewildering package of small business loans. Most of the loans offered are straightforward, unsecured loans that are based upon the overall credit picture of all of the partners, the overall plan, and the determination of the lender that you prospectus is sound. This sounds as though you will be facing quite a bit of scrutiny. Is there an alternative if you dont get the money you need in this way? There are always alternatives, but it is important to determine if they are valid for your purpose.

One alternative that may be offered is a hard money business loan. In opposition to an unsecured small business loan, a hard money business loan is secured against collateral that you put up. It is usually in the form of real property, such as an apartment building or office space that you already own. Some people offer their homes as collateral, a very bad idea since it mixes business and personal finances and it opens the door to real problems on all levels if the enterprise does not do well and prosper as planned. In some cases, a hard money business loan will be issued against an expensive vehicle or equipment, but the value of the property put up as collateral will have to be in excess of the value of the small business loan that you are seeking.

A hard money business loan is always a risky venture, and it is nearly always preferable to obtain the debt relief that can be negotiated by a qualified consultant. Seeking a hard money business loan to try to settle existing financial problems just digs a deeper hole for your enterprise. It is better to get the advice of a skilled financial counselor who will advise you regarding the real options available to reorganize your financial obligations.

Another thing to remember if you are tempted to take out a hard money business loan is that this type of business debt will not be eligible for debt consolidation, debt settlement or even Chapter 11 bankruptcy relief. The programs that are offered by debt relief consultants and lawyers can only address unsecured business debt. The only recourse available to an enterprise that is in financial trouble with repayment of a hard money business loan is loss of the collateral to the lender, which may satisfy the debt but does not erase the damage that have already been done to the credit rating.

Author: James A Banks
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Limitations of M&A

One should know that M&A as a strategy for rapid growth can be risky and uncertain. Shareholders of acquired firms are likely to earn above-average returns, while shareholders of acquiring firms’ shares fall as soon as an intention to acquire is announced. This is indicative that investors do not see M&A as a vehicle for achieving any added value to the acquiring firm.

Over the years we have experienced the failure of major M&A. Some manages are rather concerned with empire-building strategies rather than maximising shareholder value; the bigger the firm, the bigger the bonus and salary.

AOL Time Warner is an example of a US multimedia giant created in 2000 by the merger of AOL and Time Warner, new and old media industries. The merger was intended to exploit cross-promotional opportunities following the decline of AOL after the dot.com crash. However, the marriage failed to produce any intended synergy.

Some of the reasons link with M&A failures:

1. Integration difficulties
When two large organisations try to integrate their activities, this can be time-consuming and difficult- The existing organisational culture within each firm is a major barrier to merger. Companies really never integrate their activities some decades later.

However, some organisations like Cisco have managed to achieve effective post-merger integration. Cisco, an American company has developed strong capabilities in this area. The firm always allocate substantial resources to its M&A activities and make great effort in integrating financial, technical and human resources.

2. Inadequate evaluation of Target Company

Acquiring firms do not take sufficient time to evaluating the target company. Lack of a strong due diligence has been cited as the reason of the poor choice of take-over target.

3. Large or extraordinary debt

The revenue-generating activity of the acquired company can be over-estimated, pushing the acquiring firm to take on too much debt to pay for it. In the end, there is not sufficient revenue to service the debt.

4. Inability to achieve synergy

Lack of synergy could be cause for concern. Many companies have failed to achieve the intended outcomes because managers are too focus on their own interests and fail to identify problems within target firm operations during due diligence. Balance sheets of acquired firms could show bad debts that are not mentioned prior to the bid.

5. Too much diversification and too large

Successful managers are too often distracted by M&A and end up destroying what they have already achieved organically, by, losing sight of the core business activities and, investing in activities that fail to maximise shareholders value. In the end the organisation become so large that managers struggle to control.

Ivoireconsultancy.org is an online outsourcing site where businesses and consultants meet to work on projects.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/why-some-ma-fail-to-succeed-1391980.html

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Before we go any further, let’s make sure we’re working from the same definition of hard money business loans.

For the purposes of this discussion, hard money business loans and hard money loans in general, are typically secured by real estate.

Because the lender is not usually concerned with the application of the funds acquired, I’m further defining a hard money business loan as a source of funds invested into a business operation.

The lending criteria for issuing a hard money loan is primarily focused on the equity held in real estate.

Typical characteristics: 1) private lending sources, 2) short interest terms from one to three years, 3) up front fees on closing, 4) short in duration, 5) use of funds not a focus, 6) limited number of debt covenants if any, 7) interest only payments is quite common, 8 failure to pay results in sale assets to retire the debt.

While hard money lenders have their detractors, they serve a very real and valuable purpose in the commercial financing market place.

Pros and Cons

Pro – The application process for a hard money loan tends to be considerably faster than a comparably sized conventional loan application.

Con – Compared to conventional real estate financing through institutional lenders, the cost of hard money loans is almost always higher.

Pro – In many cases hard money can be lower cost than cash flow financing facilities like subordinate debt and factoring.

Con – Up front fees also add to the cost of hard money business loans which can significantly increase the effective interest rate you’re actually paying over a period of time.

Pro – As a bridge loan, these funds are normally outstanding for a short period of time so the shorter the use, the lower the potential cost.

Con – At the end of the interest term, if an extension is required, but not granted, the loan needs to be paid out in full.

Pro – From a cash flow point of view, an interest only payment, even at a high rate, can still be less strain on the cash flow.

Con – Once you sign up for an interest term, its the same as most fixed interest rate terms whereby there is usually a 3 month penalty for early payout.

Pro – Hard money can also be extended against non real estate assets where real estate is still the primary security in the overall security package for the loan.

Con – If you fall behind with your payments, the foreclosure process can be swift and will typically be as fast as the local jurisdiction will allow.

The basic scenario for considering a hard money business loan is when a business has exhausted its conventional financing sources and is still short money to operate, expand, or just take advantage of short term opportunities.

Because repayment is usually required within a one to three year period, hard money business loans can also be categorized as bridge loans.

If you’re thinking about whether or not to secure a hard money business loan, consider the following points:
Can you generate an ROI? If you have good, profitable business in front of you that you can’t bank because a lack of short term capital, then a hard money business loan may be a solid option.

Do you have an exit strategy? Remember that a hard money business loan is effectively a bridge loan that you’re going to have to pay back in the near future.

If you can’t create a cash flow scenario where full repayment is possible at the end of the loan term, then a hard money business loan may not be a viable option.

What are your alternatives? If your alternative financing options are equity based where you are giving up a portion of the future profits of the business, a hard money business loan can allow you to retain control of the business and keep the related profits.

What’s the impact on personal liability? If your alternative business financing options are high cost and still require a personal guarantee, then a hard money business loan may actually be a better option.

Can you generate enough capital? If a hard money business loan cannot completely address your financing need, then it may not be a good fit.

Sometimes business owners will use hard money to buy time until they can acquire additional capital to meet their entire financing need.

The problem with this strategy is that hard money is not very patient, and if it takes longer to acquire the additional funds than your cash flow allows, the hard money lender will not likely postpone or restructure your debt serving costs.

Instead, if you fall behind in your payments, they will likely realize on their security, which may put you out of business.

Brent Finlay makes it easy to understanding business financing. Learn how to locate and secure proper financing for your business. To receive your free 6 part mini-course visit the small business credit and financing website

You think it may be possible to save the venture by taking out another business loan to bring the payments current, but then you get quite a shock. The lender you have always used will no longer grant a loan due to your bad credit rating. You still entertain the idea of taking out another loan to make accounts current. Is it time to consider a bad credit small business loan? What kind of terms can you expect with a bad credit small business loan?

A bad credit small business loan is one of several types of alternative style loans that lenders offer to enterprises that no longer qualify for conventional loans due to a poor credit rating. These alternative loans may include a hard money loan that will hold collateral like real estate or other tangible goods to guarantee repayment. A hard money loan is a secured loan, whereas a bad credit small business loan is unsecured, but often has very stringent terms that make it a doubtful advantage. For example, the interest rates are generally quite high and may have balloon payment, or very large payments that come due within a few years. There are usually very stiff penalties for missing a payment and an infraction such as this often can negate the contract and the creditor may be able to demand payment in full immediately. But when an owner is struggling to keep his or her enterprise, a bad credit small business loan may look like the only alternative.

The are other alternatives and a professional debt counsellor should be consulted before taking out a bad credit small business loan and sounding the death knell to an already struggling venture.

A good consultant will explain the debt management options to a bad credit small business loan such as debt consolidation or even debt settlement. Both of these options depend upon the skilled negotiation that the consultant will undergo with the creditors on the behalf of your enterprise. A settlement or consolidation will result in being able to make reduced payments, by consolidating the debt and by reducing the interest, therefore allowing more of the payment to address the principal. Often a settlement will result in the financial obligation being paid off much more quickly.

Another advantage of debt reorganization to a bad credit small business loan is that it actually improves your credit score. Just by entering into a reorganization plan, an owner sends a signal to creditors that he or she is serious about curing the financial situation and the credit rating begins to improve, rather than continuing to sink. Speak to a debt relief consultant to find the solutions that are preferable to a bad credit small business loan, which is, after all, yet another financial obligation to add to the problems that are already in place.

Author: James A Banks
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These loans eliminate some of the problems posed by collateral. If you own a home or part of a home, that ownership stake can be used as collateral instead. This has its pros and cons; it’s good because it is available to many more small business owners, but it could potentially become a problem if the borrower is unable to pay back the loan. In this case, the lending institution acquires an ownership stake in the home.

Home equity loans are generally available from banks in two forms-the traditional loan format and the revolving line of credit. The traditional bank loan form involves a lump sum, with interest payments made on the entire amount. The line of credit, on the other hand, essentially functions as a credit card does-your limit is tied to your home’s equity, and you only pay interest on the outstanding principal. Interest rates on both of these types of home equity loan are generally much lower than credit card interest rates.

The amount of money you can borrow with a home equity loan varies from bank-to-bank. However, most banks use a metric called the loan-to-value ratio. They measure the amount of debt you have against your home, and compare that to the value of the home. Banks feel comfortable loaning you money up to an 80% loan-to-value ratio. So, if you currently owe less than 80% of your home’s value, you can probably find a home equity loan to make up that remainder to finance your business.

Growthink recently released a report for entrepreneurs entitled “The Step-by-Step Guide to Raising Capital from Banks and SBA Lenders.” For more information on how to get an SBA loan, visit http://www.growthink.com/products/loanguide.

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