Call 678.268.4033

July 2010

You are currently browsing the monthly archive for July 2010.

Small Business Loans – The Collateral Catch-22

July 22, 2010 in Access to capital, Small business funding, credit crisis, credit scoring, lending, receivables, small business, small business lending by JimLesterIV | No comments

For businesses seeking small business loans or working capital loans, the process may seem like a Catch-22, or no-win situation.     Generally, loans are secured by collateral such as accounts receivable, inventory, real estate, and other assets.  But, according to the Wall Street Journal’s article, Collateral Damage in Lending, the collapsing value of assets such as inventory and equipment is causing a collateral gap and resulting in many businesses falling short of loan eligibility.   Thus, these small businesses must still pledge the usual collateral, but, increasingly, small business lenders are requiring cash or other highly liquid assets as secondary sources of repayment.   The Catch-22 is that often these cash requirements are equal to the loan request amount.   As a result, small business owners find themselves asking, rhetorically, “If I have the cash, why do I need the loan?”  

Accounts receivable remain one of the most important assets of a company.  They are the primary generator of cash.  Tighten and reduce your cash conversion cycle by reducing your business’s accounts receivable days outstanding to generate more cash.   To do this, consider your business’s complete revenue cycle from customer acquisition to invoicing to payment receipt.  Is your business following accounts receivable best practices?  What is the propensity to pay and credit worthiness of your customers?   How does the business handle aging receivables?  

Companies such as Ftrans offer complete accounts relievable and credit management solutions that help businesses address cash and revenue cycle concerns.   Implementing these best practices enables accounts receivable funding for your business without a Catch-22.

Go Low With Your Cash Conversion Cycle

July 14, 2010 in Access to capital, Small business funding, credit crisis, lending, receivables, small business by JimLesterIV | No comments

As reported by the Wall Street Journal, small and medium size businesses continue to have limited access to credit.   According to Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke,

“The formation and growth of small businesses depends critically on access to credit,” Mr. Bernanke said in the text of his remarks. “Unfortunately, those businesses report that credit conditions remain very difficult.”

Absent credit availability in the form of small business lending, businesses must actively manage their cash conversion cycle, which is the time it takes to convert a business’s cash consuming activities into cash payments.   In other words, businesses must manage to a low cash conversion cycle which means having cash tied up in business operations for as few days as possible.  Clearly, a shallow credit market highlights the importance of managing to a low cash conversion cycle as this may be one of the few ways for businesses to have the liquidity necessary to fund their operations.   

How do you manage your cash conversion cycle?   Focusing on revenues and expenses is important.   However, equally important, and perhaps more complex is developing a better understanding of your business’s working capital situation.   Analyze your accounts receivable and accounts payable outstanding days, including inventory, to understand how movements in each affect your cash conversion cycle.   Good cash cycle conversion management equates to better revenue cycle management which equates to an increase in the health of a company.   For more information on cash cycle conversion, click here.   Additionally, consider solutions from companies such as Ftrans which provide full accounts receivable management solutions.