Hard Money 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 $25,000.

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.

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 â?? whether a small start-up business, a medium-scaled one or a big business company â?? 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 investorsâ?? 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 proprietorâ??s personal credit history is taken into account and related references need to be submitted. Of course, the companyâ??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 â?? including small business loans â?? 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 companyâ??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.

The cost of starting up an enterprise is high; most advisers recommend that you have at least $50,000 capital on hand “just in case” when you begin your own venture. This is meant to be for unknown problems and glitches, not the actual equipment and running costs. You really need that buffer to create a comfort zone to allow your venture to operate until it takes off on its own. But cheer up. If starting an enterprise is costly, you can usually get all the advice you will ever need or want for free.

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
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Writing a business marketing plan is always the first step to achieving your business goals. It’s important to create a well-researched marketing plan because it will surely lead you to a profitable and successful sale.

If you’re planning to put up your own cleaning business, it’s imperative that you have your own marketing plan even if you’re catering to a niche market. This will assist and guide you in your daily decision-making which in turn, will be your key to success.

Let me give you some tips on how to start your business marketing plan to keep your commercial cleaning business thriving despite our sluggish economy:

Tip 1: Planning on how to allocate your capital is one of the factors you need to consider when creating a business plan.

On the one hand, spending on expensive but quality cleaning materials and equipment might lead to slower return on investments. On the other hand, if you scrimp on equipment and cleaning materials, the quality of your service would most likely suffer. You obviously have two choices: cheap equipment but faster ROI or expensive equipment but slower ROI. The key here is to find a balance between cost-optimality and quality service.

Tip 2: Setting a price can make or break your cleaning business. Is your cleaning service priced too high or too low?

Your business marketing plan should also be based on the law of supply and demand. If your business is located in an area wherein there is pretty much non-existent cleaning business, then you could price it accordingly to position yourself into your customers’ mind as the market leader. However, be sure to provide quality service so that your customers’ will get their money’s worth. If your cleaning business is located in a highly competitive neighborhood, then you have to lower your prices accordingly. Always keep this in mind whenever you’re studying the pricing strategy: your markup should be within the reasonable value which leads me to…

Tip 3: Know your competition. Are there are a lot of cleaning services sprouting left and right in your neighborhood? Do you still want to take the risk strong amidst the strong competition? If yes, try to set yourself apart from the rest of the pack. Offer complementary products that your competitors haven’t thought of yet.

Tip 4: Set a deadline. When is your target launch? When do you expect to break even or recoup your investment?

Setting a deadline will drive and motivate you to be consistent. This will also keep track of your progress as well as help you spot your strengths and weaknesses.

More often than not, these factors are often taken for granted. What makes a business marketing plan effective is when you exhaust all possible scenarios. Once you’ve come up with the best AND worst possible scenarios for your cleaning business, then it’s time to put your plan into action!

Jeremy Gray is a successful entrepreneur and a commercial cleaning business owner. He also owns and maintains CleaningBusinessSecrets.com. Head to his site if you want more information on how to write an effective business marketing plan.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/strategic-planning-articles/top-tips-for-creating-a-business-marketing-plan-1366670.html