Hard Money Loans

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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Your enterprise has been your dream, your livelihood and even your obsession for years but due to recent events, the accounts receivable have taken a downturn and you are beginning to accrue a hefty debt. Due to new competition or just a slowdown in consumer spending, or for any reason, the monthly bills dwarf the cash flow each month, and payments are falling behind schedule. The delinquent payments are resulting in substantial late charges being levied and the interest continues to accrue and adds to a growing, rather than decreasing, principal. It seems to you that the financial obligations you are facing are spiralling out of control. The farther behind you get, the more damage is being done to the venture’s credit rating.

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
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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