Options And Sources Of Canadian Business Financing - Raising Business Finance

Let's be honest. What business owner or new entrepreneur doesn't want options and sources of business financing for Canadian companies or new ventures. Raising finance for any firm is a challenge - the larger corporations seem to have it down pat, but what about the small and medium sized business owner.

Let's examine some options on how you can get capital for your business, and at the same time review some of the benefits, and risk, around some of these options.

Looking for capital revolves around your ability to determine whether you need operating capital or long term capital in the context of asset financing or permanent working capital.

Operating capital is required for the combination of start up expenses, as well as ongoing cash flow and working capital financing. These initial funds are used for product development, marketing, legal and accounting fees, as well as leasehold improvements to your facility or store.

Most Canadian businesses involved in any sort of research and development around their product are probably eligible for Canada's SR&ED, aka ' SRED' credit. It’s a non refundable cheque from federal and provincial authorities.

Your SR&ED claim is most successful when it is prepared by a qualified SRED consultant who can maximize the benefits of the program. We cringe when business owners or financial managers tell us that the program is ' just too much paperwork ' because they are clearly forsaking a true capital injection into their business. Many of those consultants will actually prepare your claim at their own time and expense risk, offering you a contingency agreement on those funds. The bottom line: check out this program.

Leasehold improvements are generally very difficult to finance if you are starting a business, and even if you are already established and generating revenue. That's why it's important to investigate Canada's Small Business Loan Program, technically referred to as the BIL/CSBF program. It finances leaseholds to a maximum of $ 350,000.00 and offers rates, terms and structures that even larger corporations would be envious of.

We're not big fans of utilizing so called ' love money ‘, i.e. funds from friends and family. We're even less enamored by clients who are actually prepared to collapse personal registered savings or mortgage their homes to start a business. While its important to have some ' skin in the game' as the expression goes its our recommendation that you incorporate your business and strongly seek out traditional and alte
ative financing to fund your business .

Some sources these two types of financing include supplier financing via extended terms, sale of receivables which is commonly called invoice discounting , merchant cash advances ( cash flowing future credit card sales ) equipment financing for hard assets, or even more sophisticated royalty arrangements that might be a hybrid of both debt and equity in your business.

In Canada venture capital and private equity is generally very difficult to obtain for most start up ventures - we caution clients to not dwell too long on these options unless you're committed to a long haul in effort!

We also point out that the size and credit quality of any business, start up or established still offers numerous sources of financing, either traditional or alte
ative. Speak to a trusted, credible and experienced Canadian business financing advisor on sources of business financing and options for raising capital for your venture.