Archive for June, 2007

Payday Loans: Explained Without the Wait




The idea of a payday loan, essentially, is that it’s a “last resort” type of loan for those with nowhere to turn when they need money quickly. Generally, they are high-interest loans. Since they’re so short-term in nature, the lender needs to make a profit, so a lot charge higher interest rates. There are also lending fees, which bring about a heated debate lately due to the concept of unfairness. It is widely assumed and accepted, however, that a payday loan company has a right to emphasise a profit, as any business would, regardless of method. This is nothing but a form of capitalism, pure and simple, and bleeds dry the needy public.

In Australia, the governing body passed a motion to permit the building of a payday loans-type policy to hand out money in the form in which it prefers, and the form in which we are familiar with today. Suitable legislation followed from there, securing these loans as “real” loans in terms of regulations that any government or local Australian would acquire. Since, various payday loan lenders have applied for the right for legislation, and payday loan companies started popping up around the world.

The concept of payday loans eventually found its way to the internet and other various outlets where people communicate. This upgrades the convenience and simplifies the process of procuring payday loans by allowing individuals to engage in the procedure through means that made it easier on both the lender and borrower. With these many advances, payday loan lenders began to show up everywhere. As with any competition, these various companies provide competitive rates in order to outdo the next guy. The payday loan industry has turned into a fast-moving marketplace.

Now borrowers are left looking for the best service with the best rates. Out of all the payday lenders, someone has to be the best. After all, it would be impossible for so many to remain in business if they were all the exact same. One such place that stands out above all other competition is Australia’s own Cash Doctors. By visiting http://www.cashdoctors.com.au, you’ll find one of the best in the business. Just drop by for more information.



Purchase Order & Letter of Credit Financing




Many business opportunities come with an associated challenge. For most entrepreneurial businesses, the greatest challenge is financing the business opportunities created by your sales efforts. What are your options if you have a sales opportunity that is clearly too large for your normal scale of operations? Will your bank provide the necessary financing? Is your business a startup, or too new to meet the bank’s requirements? Can you tap into a commercial real estate loan or a home equity loan in sufficient time to conclude the transaction? Do you decline the order? Fortunately there is an alternative way to meet this challenge: You can use Purchase Order Financing & Letter of Credit financing to deliver the product and close the sale.

What is purchase order financing?

Purchase order financing is a specialized method of providing structured working capital and loans that are secured by accounts receivables, inventory, machinery, equipment and/or real estate. This type of funding is excellent for startup companies, refinancing existing loans, financing growth, mergers and acquisitions, management buy-outs and management buy-ins.

Purchase order financing is based upon bona fide purchase orders from reputable, creditworthy companies, or government entities. Verification of the validity of the purchase orders is required. The financing is not based on your company’s financial strength. It is based on the creditworthiness of your customers, the strength of the commercial finance company funding the transaction, and in most cases a letter of credit.

What is a letter of credit?

A letter of credit is a letter from a bank guaranteeing that a buyer’s payment to a seller will be received on time and for the correct amount. If the buyer is unable to make payment for the purchase, the bank is required to cover the full amount of the purchase. In a purchase order financing transaction, the bank relies on the creditworthiness of the commercial finance company in order to issue the letter of credit. The letter of credit “backs up” the purchase order financing to the supplier, or manufacturer.

Is purchase order financing appropriate for your sales program?

The perfect paradigm is a distributor buying products from a supplier and shipping directly to the purchaser. Importers of finished goods, exporters of finished goods, out-source manufacturers, wholesalers and distributors can effectively use purchase order financing to grow their businesses.

Is purchase order financing appropriate for growing your sales orders?

Purchase order financing requires you to have management expertise- a proven track record in your particular business. You must have bona fine purchase orders from reputable firms that can be verified. And you must have a repayment plan; often this is from a commercial finance company in the form of accounts receivable or asset-based financing.

You should have a gross margin of at least 25% to benefit from purchase order financing. Sellers of services or commodities with low margins, such as lumber or grain, will not qualify.

The bottom line decision for purchase order financing:

It can take two or more years to develop a profitable business. Banks generally base their lending limits on a business’ performance for the past two or three years. Purchase order financing, combined with letters of credit and/or accounts receivable or asset-based financing can give you sufficient funds to cover your operating costs, financing costs and still realize significant profits. If you qualify for purchase order financing, you can grow your business by taking advantage of large purchase orders and eventually qualify for bank financing.



GETTING INVESTMENT IN AUSTRALIA – WHAT’S AVAILABLE?




Getting investment in Australia is just like getting investment anywhere else – you need to know to look. But what’s out there? For a quick overview, read on…

You can secure investment in Australia from a variety of sources. You could start by consulting friends and family, who are usually more than willing to help you succeed. You need to consider all the implications of this though, as money can often come between friends – make sure that there are clear guidelines and boundaries in place, and if you’re not 100% confident that it can work out, look elsewhere.

Business angels would be the next option of investment. They can usually offer more money than friends and family can, and have the added advantage of being experienced in business. This can be vital to your success. Businesses are inherently difficult to make successful, and having someone at your disposal who knows all the tricks of the trade can be a huge advantage.

You should also consider venture capitalists if you’re looking for investment. They can often provide the highest level of funding, and will be more than capable of taking your business to the next level. They rarely invest in start-ups though, but if your business is further along in development and is looking for that extra push, they could be your ideal option.

If you’ve decided that private investment is the way forward, you need to know where to find it. If you want to get investment in Australia, a great place to look would be EntrepreneurInvestorNetwork.com.au. They specialise in the Australian investment market, and connect businesses with likeminded investors looking for the next big thing.

Getting investment in Australia can be just as difficult as anywhere else. But, there are a lot of options available to you, and if you make the right decisions it can be a much more enjoyable and ultimately profitable process.