Finance & Funding Jargon Buster

You can’t know what you don’t know, especially when it’s wrapped up in abbreviations and buzzwords. Start.Biz are decoding the most commonly used jargon words when looking for business finance or a funding.

P&L 

Profit and Loss Account – a record of Income and Expenditure within a given 12-month financial period to ultimately determine profitability.

Balance Sheet 

A snapshot of the Assets and Liabilities owned/owed by a business at any particular moment in time i.e. Cash Balance or Value of Outstanding Loans. The value between the Assets owned by a Company after deducting the Liabilities it holds equates to its Net Assets.

Cash Flow Statement 

A log of monthly cash inflows/outflows often using a combination of retrospective and forecast information. For a small business, this is probably the key document to managing cash flow.

Working Capital 

This represents a measure of liquidity on a day-to-day basis within a business and is calculated after deducting liabilities such as supplier invoices/debt/PAYE/VAT from assets such as cash/customers invoices/stock.

MI 

Management Information – lenders often require Management Information such as Aged Debtor/Receivable reports and Management Accounts.

Statutory Accounts 

Financial year-end accounts as produced by the Directors of a business and filed with Companies House.

Management Accounts 

Monthly record of Management Information usually comprising Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Statement

Aged Debtors 

A report of amounts owed by your Customers to the business.

Aged Creditors 

A report of amounted owed to Suppliers by the business.

SALIE 

Statement of Assets and Liabilities – a form usually completed when looking to borrow money comprised of i) Personal Assets & Liabilities (owned/owing), ii) Monthly/Annual log of income/expenditure.

If you have any questions about financing your business or would like to discuss your personal circumstances, please contact our expert team today. 

Access to Finance Consultation Line: 0800 069 9090 (freephone) or email finance@start.biz

Business Finance & Funding FAQ’s

What finance is available to me if I haven’t started trading? 

Start Up Loans are government backed loans where the borrower/s can each borrow up to £25,000 to a maximum of £100,000 for any one business at a Fixed Interest Rate of 6% Start Up Loans – click here to find out more.

What funding can I access if I have been trading for 6 months, 1 year, 2+ years? 

There are lots of options ranging from High Street banks to Alternative providers (i.e. Responsible Finance providers) to Asset-backed lenders (Invoice & Equipment finance specialists).

What key business documents do I need when applying for trading? 

Annual Statutory Accounts, Management Accounts, Profit and Loss Account, Balance Sheet, Cash Flow forecast and Personal Assets & Liabilities Statement.

Who should I go to first when looking for a business loan/access to finance? 

If you have been trading for more than 6 months, try your local Growth Hub – they are a great centralised place to receive connections to finance providers from. Alternatively, give us a call at Start.Biz.

If I get turned down by high street banks for a business loan is there any alternatives? 

There are lots of alternatives. A good place to start would be to look for local Responsible Finance providers who often offer the required level of finance whilst also appreciating the need for SME Business Owners to get decisions on funding quickly. Click here to find out who provides responsible finance in your area.

How much can I borrow? 

This will depend on a number of variables:
i) The level of profitability currently within the business and moving forwards is critical. The more profitable you are, the more likely you are to get higher levels of finance.
ii) Whether the Business Owner is offering a Personal Guarantee to secure the loan
iii) The quantum of investment that the Business Owner is putting in

Can I get a grant? 

Yes but this will be dependent upon the criteria of each individual grant. A good place to start would be to sign up The Innovation Factory’s (Drew Currie) monthly newsletter, click here to sign up for free.

Can I get a project funded? 

Possibly but a bit like Grants, it is entirely dependent on the funding resource in the market at that time. Innovate UK offers Loans and Grants with a focus on business’ growing via Innovation, find out more here.

What kind of business activity can I get finance for? 

You can apply for finance for a multitude of activities including:
– Business acquisition/merger
– Asset purchase
– Invoice Finance
– Refinance
– Working Capital/Cash Flow

Are there still any covid recovery schemes available? 

The Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) is available until 30th June 2022

What is a good interest rate? 

The Interest Rate applied is often directly linked to the perceived level of risk with the loan itself. High Street lenders will lend at 3% + the Bank England’s base rate of lending. Currently, SMEs are finding it harder and harder to access funding at these rates via the High Street. Rates for SME’s can range from as little as 6% right up to 14%. Sometimes the easiest thing to do is secure finance at a higher level of interest to get the required funding before then refinancing at a later date at a better rate of interest.

If you have any questions about financing your business or would like to discuss your personal circumstances, please contact our expert team today. 

Access to Finance Consultation Line: 0800 069 9090 (freephone) or email finance@start.biz 

Our Finance Story

Acquiring a business is always challenging. Acquiring a business during a global pandemic might be considered stupid.
In August 2020, we acquired Start.Biz after the best part of 12 months trying to get the deal over the line and it was the best decision we ever made.
Bevan and I became friends whilst our wives, Kirsty and Michaela, were pregnant. During the first year of becoming parents both couples decided that we wanted to control our own fate.
We had spent the best part of 15 years working in businesses and helping the Directors and Shareholders of those businesses make a lot of money. We thought it was about time we pooled our resources and brains to have a go ourselves.
On 3rd January 2020, we received confirmation that our offer for the business had been accepted. After initial jubilation/celebration, the hard work began. Alongside working in full-time roles across the UK and completing Due Diligence, we had to start and complete our finance raise. Our journey to raise finance and finalise the deal had six steps:

Step 1 – “Skin in the game” 

No-one was going to lend to us without us putting some money in ourselves. The business was profitable and cash generative, but lenders wanted to see us share some of the risk. Over a period of 6 months, we managed to raise one-third of the deal value using our own money plus begging/borrowing from family.

Step 2 – Start Up Loan salvation 

We were one-third down but still some way to go. Due to us structuring the deal via the formation of a new Limited Company, we were eligible for a Start-Up Loan. Both of us and our wives were able to apply for these loans which secured another 25% of what we needed. Although these are personal loans, the business (post-acquisition) makes the repayment and at an interest of 6%, it is a great funding source to go to when there is a funding gap.

Step 3 – Alternative providers 

High-street lenders weren’t interested in the deal. At the time of our finance raise, Covid had just started, and all focus was on businesses securing CBILS or Bounce Back Loans for survival. We were way down the pecking order so had to approach other funders. Luckily, in BCRS and ART Business Loans, we found two lenders that were willing to work with us and provide the required debt to get the deal over the line. Funding secured, or so we thought….

Step 4 – Panic 

We arrived in mid-June engulfed in ‘legals’ and things started to go quiet. Having been through a few of these processes previously, I knew that this wasn’t a good sign. After what seemed like an eternity, we finally spoke to the Seller who told us that he had been giving the deal a lot of thought and decided to pull out. Bevan and I had already racked up a lot of costs to get to this point and more importantly, we had started to get emotionally invested in the business and our plans to drive it forwards. Although all seemed lost, we went back to the Seller for one final time with a revised/improved “Hail Mary” offer – two days later, it was accepted. Phew!

Step 5 – Completion 

From the moment the deal was back on track, we went into overdrive to get the deal done as quickly as possible but now we needed more finance!! We had run out of time to go to another finance provider and the effects of Covid had started to be felt throughout the UK. Eventually, one of our contacts was able to provide a short-term loan to give us the space to get the deal done before then applying for new finance, post-Completion, to repay him.
Right up to the day of Completion itself, we really weren’t sure whether the Seller would go through with the deal which, in itself, was pretty stressful. At 1:30pm on 28th August 2020, the legal documents were signed, and the business was ours.
We gave ourselves the weekend to celebrate….

Step 6 – Re-focus and drive 

From the following Monday and ever since, we have been striving to drive the business forwards with new staff, products and systems. Like any SME, day to day costs need to be managed as we grow our customer base. All of this has required investment and use of working capital. From day 1, raising finance has been inextricably linked to our ownership and management of the business. With the plans that we have in place, that isn’t going to change any time soon.

What happens after the Recovery Loan Scheme (RLS) ends on 30 June 2022?

Here are our predictions for what will happen after the scheme finsihes this year.

1. It might not end 

The RLS has already been extended once, from 31st December 2021 to 30th June 2022, and it has been mooted that there may be another further extension yet. With over 70 lenders on board and a steady stream of RLS loans still being approved, demand would suggest there is still a need for this product. Watch this space!

2. The RLS may be replaced 

We had a meeting this week with one lender who informed that talks were ongoing about a replacement for the RLS currently under review by the Government. No terms have, as yet, been released but this would imply that the Government recognise that without further encouragement on their part, the debt market place (for SMEs in particular) could start to shrink.

3. The debt market place returns to pre-Covid’19 conditions 

Without an accessible Government-backed loan product on the table. The Government may determine that it has propped up the business community enough over the last 2+ years and now it is time to start recouping those monies rather than lending more into this space. There are pros and cons of ending the RLS and the decision would be made much easier if macro-economic circumstances were not as turbulent and fragile as they currently stand.
Over the last 2+ years, high-street banks have lent multiple times their annual average and are now working hard to secure repayments; market share that alternative lenders started to occupy after 2008 has accelerated and borrowers are more comfortable with paying a premium for more accessible debt without the ongoing management and financial information requirements; debt is now commonplace amongst a high proportion of SMEs that had previously never considered or required taking it on pre-Covid.
The Chancellor has to make a big decision on the RLS in the coming months that will impact the market as a whole. One thing is certain and that is that the debt landscape has changed for good due to Covid’19: demonstrating strong entrepreneurial skills (adaptability/innovation/resilience) will determine the winners of tomorrow.

Different Types of Business Finance Explained

Accessing the right debt finance for your business can be hard – the debt market is very noisy and has some sharks patrolling its shores. Despite this, raising finance is a very common requirement for the majority of businesses whether they are a start-up or large Corporate.
Before taking on any new debt, the first question we always think requires serious consideration is “Do I actually need it?” Can the business get where it needs to be in the same timeframe without the debt, albeit with a bit more difficulty along the way? If so, don’t take the debt on and endure the short-term pain for the long-term gain.
If taking on new debt is the right option for the business, then we typically see this taking one of three formats:

1. Finance for Growth: 

Start Up Loans – Typically aimed at the pre-start/early stage marketplace, Start Up Loans are government backed loans where the borrower/s can each borrow up to £25,000 to a maximum of £100,000 for any one business. Critically, these loans are personal loans and repayments will be made by the individual. Interest rates are 6% which is reasonable relative to the high-risk nature of the loans themselves.
Working Capital – “Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is King.” Every evolving business has its working capital pinch points and cash management is one of the biggest challenges that SMEs face. Working Capital finance can give a business the breathing space it needs to manage its growth, hire new staff, take on new contracts etc.
Assets/Equipment purchases – Raising finance for equipment, vehicles or acquiring a property is a natural evolution in most business’ growth. There are a variety of ways to fund an asset-led deal which can work well for a borrower and add some tangible value to a business’ Balance Sheet. When allied with certain tax breaks (Capital Allowances) that businesses can currently receive, they are well worth consideration as a business looks to expand.

2. Finance for Mergers & Acquisitions: 

A Merger or Acquisition can be a great way to accelerate business growth and profitability. Certain sectors such as Technology and Healthcare are ripe at the moment for consolidation. Raising finance in this area can be challenging and requires a substantial amount of due diligence and financial analysis and forecasting. Getting the right finance package in place can be one of the key determining factors between a good deal and a bad one.

3. Finance for debt management/refinancing: 

In our ever-changing and unpredictable world, a rise in the Bank of England’s base interest rates can have a meaningful impact upon monthly debt repayments. As a result, refinancing debt via a cheaper provider or looking to extend the term of a repayment can ease cash pressures and allow management to focus on the core activities of the business.
At Start.biz, we have 15 years’ experience raising debt finance in all of the above areas and have built a network of industry contacts over this period to introduce our clients to. Give us a call on 0800 069 9090 or e-mail via finance@start.biz to set up your free consultation.

Accountancy for Small Business

Accountancy is referred to as the language of business, similarly when learning a new language you can feel overwhelmed or completely lost at the beginning. In this article we will go through the 4 cornerstones of accountancy, with examples, so you can start to get to grips with the basics.

What is accounting? 

Accounting is the recording, reporting, interpreting and analysis of everything that happens within your business linked to financial matters. These are the 4 cornerstones of accounting. It is important you have your books in order from day one as it can be a headache to go back and opportunities to save your business money may get missed.

Record all transactions 

There are 5 different types of transactions your business can make; it is important all of these are recorded to give you a clear picture of the finances of your business.
Revenue / sales – all money coming into the business from selling your products and/or services.
Expenses – any money you are spending to run your business.
Assets – this measures –
the future value of equipment or premise you own to produce your product or carry out your service,
monies owed to you from customers
cash held in your bank (assuming this is in the black)
Liabilities – any debts of the business, including loans, financing etc.
Equity – this represents the money the owners would be left with if all assets & liabilities were sold & settled.
Once you’ve set up your business account with your selected bank sync it with your bookkeeping system to keep the recording of all the above as efficient and easy as possible.

Reports about your business 

There are many different types of reports you can run depending on the information you need. Many of them have specific names, your accountant should be running these so you can ask to have a look or you can run them yourself using your bookkeeping software. Here are some common ones to know.
Income Statement/Profit and Loss Account (P&L) – this shows you whether your business is growing or slowing. Most businesses typically produce a P&L on a monthly basis to track performance in the prior month. This report gives business owners a sense check on the underlying trajectory of the business and whether there is a need to review costs or invest further to drive growth.
Balance Sheet – this is laid out in a ‘T’ shape and is called a balance sheet because it should balance on each side, like a pair of scales, to account for all the transactions in and out of the business. These can be produced either at the end of the financial year or at the end of every month to keep a closer eye on your finances.
Cash Flow Statement – this is a vital report you should have access to as bad cash flow is where most new businesses trip up. This gives you a much better idea of what is really going on in your business and how much cash you are owed and have available right now. This can help you make important decisions about expenditure for growth. Remember – “Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, cash is King!”
In the event you are trying to raise money to grow your business, acquire or even sell, you will in all likelihood need at least 12 months’ worth of financial reports in support.

Interpreting & Analysing 

We have put these two together, they are not the same thing but do go hand-in-hand. Going back to our analogy of learning a new language, interpretation is vital, there will be nuisances and different ways of classifying the data so it can be interpreted differently. Be very clear about what you want to know and communicate this with your accountant or know the correct report to run to find out. Once this is done you can analyse the data factoring in your growth plans to see if they’re achievable. You can use accounting formula’s to determine results, here some examples.
Net Profit Margin = (Revenue – Cost) / Revenue. You can use this cleverly to see if you can afford a loss-leader to get customers through the door. For example, can margins be made up other places to keep prices low on eye-grabbing products that are coveted.
Return on advertising spend = current advertising cost / revenue. This isn’t always this simple however it gives you a figure to work with.
How liquid the company is = current assets / current liabilities. Again, this a simplistic equation however it’s a good base figure to start with.
Getting an accountant early on, even though it may feel like an unnecessary expense, is essential and well worth the money. There are different kinds of accountants out there, if you are a numerically literate person that feels confident doing accounts you may just want one to check over everything and file for you, cheaper packages can be found to just cover the basics. There are lots of cloud-based software packages that are compatible on your mobile as well as your desktop and allow you to check your accounts in real-time and record specific transactions when you are out and about to save time.

Questions to Ask Yourself when Writing a Business Plan

A considered business plan will not only help you get organised and crystalise your vision, it is also essential if you are seeking outside funding.

1. What should be at the beginning of my business plan? 

The executive summary, this should be 6 short paragraphs on the following subjects to give an overview of your business. This is your big opening number so keep it concise, professionally presented and attention grabbing!
What the name and function of the business is.
What makes you unique within your industry.
How you are going to become known to your target audience.
How you will structure your business.
Top line finance facts outlining when you expect to break even, potential revenue and profit projections. Have detailed reports to back up these attention-grabbing figures. Note you will have chance to go into more depth in your analysis section (see point 2).
State how much money you are asking for and what the investor(s) will get in return.

2. What analysis should I do? 

After your executive summary should come your analysis section full of facts to make your potential investor realise this is their one-way ticket to private island ownership!
There are many areas and types of analysis you can carry out either before starting your business or prior to writing your business plan. It is good to decide which you think are necessary/most helpful, consider if it is possible for you to gather useful/accurate data for the report and how long to spend on the process. Add attractive headline statistics from your findings to your business plan and have the in-depth reports to back your figures up if questions are asked.
SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis. This is usually presented in a grid format on one page with bullet points. This kind of breakdown can be applied to many different areas of your business as well as your competitors and the industry as a whole.
Quantitative data and qualitative findings. It is best to have a mix of these within your business plan, ignoring either can leave serious blind spots in your presentation and business strategies.
Financial projections. You may need a professionals help with this one but if you are asking for any fiscal input, investors will need to see that their contribution will eventually yield a return. Be honest, adjust your plans inline with the numbers and be certain you can achieve what you say.

3. Have you thought about the day-to-day running of your business? 

You may have already started your business and are writing a business plan when looking for investment. If this is the case explaining the operational factors behind your business will be easier, but this is a good chance to review them and see how you could improve them. Do this and add it after the analysis section of your business plan.
Alternatively, if you are writing your business plan pre-start up or during the beginning of your journey to going full-time with your venture, this is where you get into the inner workings of your business to help investors visualise the dream. This part is relatively straight forward but demonstrates you have considered the practicalities of your operation.
Staffing, team members, contractors, freelancers, mentors, outside advisors. It is good to have these laid out in a hierarchical flow chart and to briefly outline what each person’s experience will bring to the business.
Premises. Even if you are an online business you will need to state where stock will be stored and shipping will be done from.
Record keeping. Explain how the administration of the business will be kept up to date. Include details of your accountant here.
And hey presto, you have your business plan! We would always advise putting this together pre-start up, even if you are not looking for outside investment just yet. It does not have to be super slick or go into minutia detail if you are not presenting to people outside your business, it can be a great opportunity to take a step back and see the bigger picture to ensure you are on the right track and have not missed anything.

What are the Finance Options to Help Grow my Business?

You’ve been running a little while now, learnt a lot of lessons and had some very late nights and you feel it’s time to take your business to the next level. You won’t always have the cash in the bank or the revenue from your customers to get you there so you may need to source finance. We will go through the basics of the different types of finance and varying sources you can get money from in this article.

1. What are the different sources of finance to help my business grow? 

Bank Finance. The clue is in the name with this one, you can apply to your current or other banks for finance. You will be required to show detailed financial records, present what you plan to do with the money and may be refused.
Alternative Debt Finance. Born out of the last financial crisis, the requirement to have alternative sources of debt finance boomed as SME’s, in particular, need easier methods of sourcing funding. This form of debt often involves less paperwork and the time to complete is usually quicker than bank finance. In return, business Directors’ are often required to provide Personal Guarantees and interest rates are usually higher.
Equity Finance. This is when you give away a proportion of your business in return for money. This can be done publicly or privately, through individuals or firms.
Government and Public Initiative Grants. You won’t have to repay this money but there will be specific criteria you will have to meet. Grants will usually not cover the entire cost of a project and/or growth plan.
Crowdfunding. You will be asked to put a proposal together which will be shown on the crowdfunding platform. You will be required to give something to the investors in return for their investment and this usually increases depending on the amount of money an individual contributes. For example, someone that contributes £50 will get early access to products and some that invests £500 may get a hamper of all your best products. You will also have to give all the money back if you do not hit your initial stated target.

2. What is the difference between equity and capital? 

This may seem obvious but it is important to ensure that you have your terms straight when deciding and discussing with potential investors. Equity describes the control over a stake/number of shares in the business. When investors or firms ask for equity in your business this could be a percentage with you remaining in control, a controlling percentage of the business as a whole or they may want to buy you out completely. Capital refers to the introduction of investment either from existing Shareholders/employees or via external parties. This can take the form of debt or equity.

3. What are some terms to know when looking to finance the growth of my business? 

Equity capital – you are selling a share in the business to the investor and sometimes they will be become an adviser to the business. They will use their expertise in industry to help with top line strategy because the more money the business makes, the more money they make.
Debt growth capital – this is where you take out loans to fund your growth plans and don’t relinquish any control over your business.
Working capital – this is the money you have/need to fund the day-to-day running of your business. It is not used for growth plans.
Growth capital – money you have/need to grow the business in any form, for example, loans, debts etc.
Venture capital firms – these firms will be interested in investing in new start-ups with massive growth potential.
Growth capital firms – will be interested in investing in more mature companies that can see the potential of their growth plans.
Private equity firms – a leveraged buyout, they will be interested in getting the controlling stake of the business.
Public equity – by floating your business on the stock market you will receive money for shares in your business from the public.

4. How do I write a pitch to attract external finance? 

This is where your trusty business plan will come in. You may need to write a couple of different versions to use in your pitch depending on who you are talking to. Government grants will have different interests to private investors or banks. Identify what would make your business most attractive to the audience you’re presenting to and adapt accordingly. Have all your facts and figures to hand and know them inside outside. Practice your presentation and have an elevator pitch ready for those chance meetings with valuable connections or potential investors. Go to your local business growth hub for advice, they will be help you to organise and write your proposal, make you aware of any grants available to you and potentially point you to private investors.

Invoicing for Small Businesses

We’ll look into the basics of invoices and then how you can use invoice financing as a tool to get a quick injection of cash.

1. What is an invoice and why do I need them? 

An invoice is a formal request for payment from a customer that has received goods or services from you. It is an itemised document that clearly states what they brought and how much they will need to pay. Invoices are part of bookkeeping and need to be clear, accurate and organised.

2. What should I include in an invoice? 

Google sheets have invoice templates, so do cloud based accounting systems such as Quickbooks or Xero. You want all your invoices to have the same format and look professional. Ensure you include the following:
Business logo.
Your businesses contact and billing address.
You clients billing address.
Invoice number. These need to be sequential and are essential to keep things organised as they refer to that invoice alone.
Amount due.
Date you issued the invoice. This should be as soon after the goods or services are provided as possible.
Due date of the payment.
In a table you should have a further breakdown of what the services/goods purchased with individual prices. This can be the flat or hourly rate charged. Also have a column for quantity purchased.
Tax should be stated separately. Please see VAT section below for more details.
Payment terms. This is the amount of time you have previously agreed with the client they have to pay the invoice. It’s usually stated as ‘Net – number’. For example, if you’re client has 30 days to pay the invoice the payment terms will be ‘Net 30’.
Personal note. Add a thank you and any other information that you think would be useful for the client.

3. How should I keep track of my invoices? 

The invoice number will help you do this. Set them up sequentially and have your own spreadsheet which is updated every time you send out an invoice. Carry out a weekly review of who is due you pay you and send a friendly reminder if they aren’t a regular client. You can also save a copy of the invoice in folders, think how you would like to organise these in line with your type of business. Is it more useful to organise them by invoice number, month sent or possibly, by client? Most businesses send their invoices by email, save as a PDF that can’t be edited and attach to the message as timely as possible.

4. What’s the difference between an invoice and a receipt? 

Although very similar a receipt is issued after payment, an invoice is a request for payment. Be aware that an invoice isn’t legally binding within itself. To make a transaction legally binding you need to have a contract signed between the two parties or, at least, have an agreement in writing of some sort, for example an email exchange. To cover yourself it is good to outline what your payment terms are, what services/goods you will provide and what the costs will be to ensure you and your client are on the same page.

5. What is a VAT invoice and when do I use it? 

If you and your client are NOT VAT registered you shouldn’t issue a VAT invoice. You should simply charge for the goods/services provided including the information from point 1. If you and your customer are VAT registered you are required by HRMC to provide a VAT invoice for goods/services subject to sales tax. This also applies if the invoice between the two VAT registered parties includes non-sales tax items. VAT invoices look very similar to regular invoices but include a little more information:
Your VAT number
The VAT rate(s) charged
The total amount before VAT
The total amount of tax due
The total amount due including VAT.
Now we’ve gone through the basics of invoices, we’ll explain the basics of what invoice financing is and how it can benefit you.

6. What is invoice finance? 

You can use your outstanding invoices to raise cash for your business quickly. You can sell the invoice to a company or borrow against the invoice, both minus a fee. Some companies will require your company to be a certain size and want all your outstanding invoices sold/borrowed against together, others will be happy to work with smaller businesses and allow you to select which invoices you raise cash with.

7. What are the types of invoice financing? 

Factoring – this is when you transfer your invoice debt to a company. They take a percentage or charge a fee and give you the cash. You have transferred the invoice to them so they are now reasonable for collecting that debt. This is traditional invoice financing and usually involved you handing over a chunk of or all your outstanding invoices.
Selective – this is where you choose which invoices you want to ‘sell’. You may only need a smaller cash injection so this may make more sense as the company will only take the fee from that selected invoice(s) rather than all your outstanding invoices.
Discounting – this is a loan based on your outstanding invoice(s). You borrow money against the value of your invoices and then pay the invoice financing company back after your client has paid.

8. When should I use invoice financing for my small business? 

Invoice financing can be a quick way to get a good amount of urgently needed cash into your business. When deciding on if you think it may work for you consider
Contracts – make sure you’re not tied into long contracts, large contract termination fees, handing over more invoices than you want to.
Shop around for the best percentage – traditionally the majority of invoice financing firms wanted to work with large, well established companies however the industry has change drastically in the past few years with much more flexible plans and options available to you.
Use this as a short-term solution – when you’re a small new business your suppliers may negotiate longer payment terms with you, build relationships with them to get them to pay invoices quicker and use invoice financing in the meantime.

How to Lease Equipment for your Business

Buying equipment outright for your business may be an expense out going early on so you should consider leasing where appropriate.

1. What are the benefits of leasing equipment? 

When setting up your business, depending on the nature of your industry, you may have a lot of out goings to begin with. There are different kinds of leases / finance you can get which we will detail below. You can get 0% interest on some finance agreements, spread out payments to help with cash flow, tax relief on energy efficient equipment and can even have maintaining and servicing included.

2. What types of finance contracts are there? 

Hire Purchase. You will pay instalments and own the equipment at the end of the agreement.
Finance Lease. You will pay instalments but won’t own the equipment at the end of the lease. The rental company will sell the equipment at the end of the lease and you will receive a pre-agreed amount of the proceeds.
Operating Lease. You will pay lower instalments but won’t own the equipment at the end of the lease or get any proceeds from a third-party sale.

3. Do I have to add leased equipment to the balance sheet? 

If you buy or use hire purchase for equipment for your business, it will have to be added to the business’ balance sheet however if you use finance lease or an operating lease it may not. If your total payments, excluding maintenance and servicing, amount to less than 90% of the total market value of the piece of equipment it won’t need to be added to the balance sheet. Ask the leasing agent or your accountant for a valuation if you’re unsure.

4. What should I look for when leasing equipment for my business? 

Do you need to purchase consumables along with the equipment and how is this covered by your payments?
Check the age and authenticity of the equipment, ask for evidence in writing.
Even if you have no intention of buying find out what the market value of the piece is.
What maintenance and servicing are included in the deal? Does it include spare parts? Make sure you’re clear on the costs of these and they are stated separately on the contract.
Check the process if you get faulty equipment or it breaks down completely.
What are the possibilities for the structure of the payments, example a balloon payment at the end of the contract?
Be very specific with the requirements of the equipment you need and what kind of contract would work best for you. Get at least 4 quotes from different companies, 2 larger more well-known places and 2 lesser or local leasers. Know the market value of the equipment, new and second-hand and use this to evaluate the quotes given.