Posted in Business by iwellbc |
Financing a small business can be a difficult job if no one is willing to spend money on what you’re selling. But in order to stay afloat, business owners go for the option of applying for small business loans. A business loan can give you more leeway to buy new supplies, pay off debts, or expand your business.
However, more banks nowadays are enforcing stricter rules and guidelines for giving out business loans. Policies on approval of small business loans are now less lenient and some banks have even demanded additional requirements.
A bad credit history is one important criterion for the approval of a business loan. Like every other bank or lending institution, risk factors have to be taken into consideration before they hand you their money. The credit card services you have availed and how you paid these services are very important information for these companies because it will be their basis on the approval (or disapproval) of your request, and the rate of interest they can give you. You need at least 700 points to securely get approved.
Fortunately, there is now an easier way to get a small business loan without the fear of your own credit card history. Getting a business cash advance is a faster and less stressful option for a business loan. A business cash advance is a lending service offered to business owners who accept credit cards as payment for their goods or services. This alternative form of business loan has a shorter processing time and has lesser requirements than a bank loan. This type of small business loan is quite perfect for those emergency situations where you need a large sum of money, fast. Approval of a business cash advance usually only takes 24 to 72 hours, depending on the company. Upon approval, the money is automatically transferred to your personal account. This fast-paced business loan is usually applied for online, which is very convenient.
The requirements are quite similar to those of most lending institutions, but your credit history would not be put under strict reviews. In fact, unlike business loans from the bank, bad credit history is not that big of a deal for cash advance providers. You only need to be of legal age, have a registered business in the US, have a small business that subscribes to credit card services for payment, and have been in business for at least a year.
The payment terms for a business cash advance are, of course, different from that of a business loan from the bank. But in general, the payment terms for this lending service will greatly depend on the amount of money you will be borrowing. The higher the amount, the longer time you’ll have to pay it off. But note that interests tend to be a bit higher for this type of business loan. For banks and other big lenders, payment terms for business loans can be paid off in longer terms, usually, over a year or more. Small business loans payment in banks usually does not exceed five years.
Payment for this type of business loan can be done in one single drop or monthly. It all depends on your capability to pay, and the amount of money you borrowed. The payment terms will usually require you to pay the cash advance company each month and you will get the payment structure with the amount that they expect you to pay every month. If you can afford to pay it off all at once, the better.
Get this special small business loan now.
Posted in Business by iwellbc |
We are all listening attentively about lenders on the radio, television, newspapers, and the Internet of promises to be “small business friendly”, “small business oriented”, wanting to be your “personal small business advisor” and a panoply of packages taking care of all your business needs. What small businesses really need is money, not personal hand caring services. So is there anyone out there really making small business loans? Yes. If you know where to look you can find one.
You can generally categorize banks into: 1) 10% that are actually making small business loans now and are serious about doing so, 2) 70% who will talk to you directly and indicate they are not making small business loans at this time because of the economy, and 3) 20% that slap you on the back, invite you in, and readily take your application. It is the latter group that gives us the most heartburn. It is not unusual after the initial review of your application papers for a bank represented to signal you have a good chance. Overjoyed, you begin to make plans, including executing contracts and receiving quotes for inventory, raw materials, or merchandise. Two months later, after the fourth loan committee review, you get a call that they have decided not to make the loan. The reason has little if anything to do with credit. It is typically something that was never been mentioned before and after reflection, it seems like an excuse not to make the loan in the first place.
Loan brokers such as myself are victims of the same misleading behavior. I cannot tell you how many banks have looked me in the eye and said: “Sure, we are making lots of loans. For unsecured loans of $75,000 to $150,000, we just need a credit score above 680, in business for over a year and a half, and decent financials. Real estate security is not required. We would love to entertain your applications.” Right.
What they really do is pour over the applications and pick 1 out of 100 that has the following fantasy credentials: a platinum credit score that Bill Gates would be proud of and which could support a small country, gushing positive cash flow, little competition, executed contracts stacked high on your desk, then a booming market niche. In other words, someone who doesn’t need the loan in the first place. You know the old adage: banks only give money to people who don’t need it.
It is simply psychology 101. Banks are filled up with loan officers and they have to show they are busy. If their boss walks into their office and sees nothing on their desk, they might be laid off. They have to show they are busy earning their salaries, which means receiving applications and going through the review process. It’s gotten so bad that the other day we had a client whose grandfather helped found the bank, whose father was best friends with the president, and who had received two successful loans before. Even he was turned down. Nor do they tell you the large SBA commercial loan department job layoffs of employees throughout the nation.
To prevent being too caught in this trap, look your banker in the eye and ask these questions:
1) “Tell me honestly. I don’t want to waste your time or mine. I know the credit crunch is quite depressing and there is really no secondary market. Are you actually entertaining small business loans at this time or should I wait.”
2) “How many small business loans have you personally made in the last 30 days?”
3) “What are the loan terms of the last three loans you made, including interest rate and monthly payments, for the amount of loan I am seeking?”
4) “How long will it take before I get a definitive answer?”
5) “Can you briefly describe to me the process I have to go through to get the final approval? Will you be the one making the final decision? What other people superior to you or committees will make that decision?”
But do not despair. There actually are real live prime lenders out there making small business loans. They just need to know where to look. In the next article I will discuss if such loans are available to startups.
