Alternative Financing Vs. Venture Capital: Which Option Is Best for Boosting Working Capital?

There are several potential financing options available to cash-strapped businesses that need a healthy dose of working capital. A bank loan or line of credit is often the first option that owners think of – and for businesses that qualify, this may be the best option.

In today’s uncertain business, economic and regulatory environment, qualifying for a bank loan can be difficult – especially for start-up companies and those that have experienced any type of financial difficulty. Sometimes, owners of businesses that don’t qualify for a bank loan decide that seeking venture capital or bringing on equity investors are other viable options.

But are they really? While there are some potential benefits to bringing venture capital and so-called “angel” investors into your business, there are drawbacks as well. Unfortunately, owners sometimes don’t think about these drawbacks until the ink has dried on a contract with a venture capitalist or angel investor – and it’s too late to back out of the deal.

Different Types of Financing

One problem with bringing in equity investors to help provide a working capital boost is that working capital and equity are really two different types of financing.

Working capital – or the money that is used to pay business expenses incurred during the time lag until cash from sales (or accounts receivable) is collected – is short-term in nature, so it should be financed via a short-term financing tool. Equity, however, should generally be used to finance rapid growth, business expansion, acquisitions or the purchase of long-term assets, which are defined as assets that are repaid over more than one 12-month business cycle.

But the biggest drawback to bringing equity investors into your business is a potential loss of control. When you sell equity (or shares) in your business to venture capitalists or angels, you are giving up a percentage of ownership in your business, and you may be doing so at an inopportune time. With this dilution of ownership most often comes a loss of control over some or all of the most important business decisions that must be made.

Sometimes, owners are enticed to sell equity by the fact that there is little (if any) out-of-pocket expense. Unlike debt financing, you don’t usually pay interest with equity financing. The equity investor gains its return via the ownership stake gained in your business. But the long-term “cost” of selling equity is always much higher than the short-term cost of debt, in terms of both actual cash cost as well as soft costs like the loss of control and stewardship of your company and the potential future value of the ownership shares that are sold.

Alternative Financing Solutions

But what if your business needs working capital and you don’t qualify for a bank loan or line of credit? Alternative financing solutions are often appropriate for injecting working capital into businesses in this situation. Three of the most common types of alternative financing used by such businesses are:

1. Full-Service Factoring – Businesses sell outstanding accounts receivable on an ongoing basis to a commercial finance (or factoring) company at a discount. The factoring company then manages the receivable until it is paid. Factoring is a well-established and accepted method of temporary alternative finance that is especially well-suited for rapidly growing companies and those with customer concentrations.

2. Accounts Receivable (A/R) Financing – A/R financing is an ideal solution for companies that are not yet bankable but have a stable financial condition and a more diverse customer base. Here, the business provides details on all accounts receivable and pledges those assets as collateral. The proceeds of those receivables are sent to a lockbox while the finance company calculates a borrowing base to determine the amount the company can borrow. When the borrower needs money, it makes an advance request and the finance company advances money using a percentage of the accounts receivable.

3. Asset-Based Lending (ABL) – This is a credit facility secured by all of a company’s assets, which may include A/R, equipment and inventory. Unlike with factoring, the business continues to manage and collect its own receivables and submits collateral reports on an ongoing basis to the finance company, which will review and periodically audit the reports.

In addition to providing working capital and enabling owners to maintain business control, alternative financing may provide other benefits as well:

It’s easy to determine the exact cost of financing and obtain an increase.
Professional collateral management can be included depending on the facility type and the lender.
Real-time, online interactive reporting is often available.
It may provide the business with access to more capital.
It’s flexible – financing ebbs and flows with the business’ needs.
It’s important to note that there are some circumstances in which equity is a viable and attractive financing solution. This is especially true in cases of business expansion and acquisition and new product launches – these are capital needs that are not generally well suited to debt financing. However, equity is not usually the appropriate financing solution to solve a working capital problem or help plug a cash-flow gap.

A Precious Commodity

Remember that business equity is a precious commodity that should only be considered under the right circumstances and at the right time. When equity financing is sought, ideally this should be done at a time when the company has good growth prospects and a significant cash need for this growth. Ideally, majority ownership (and thus, absolute control) should remain with the company founder(s).

Alternative financing solutions like factoring, A/R financing and ABL can provide the working capital boost many cash-strapped businesses that don’t qualify for bank financing need – without diluting ownership and possibly giving up business control at an inopportune time for the owner. If and when these companies become bankable later, it’s often an easy transition to a traditional bank line of credit. Your banker may be able to refer you to a commercial finance company that can offer the right type of alternative financing solution for your particular situation.

Taking the time to understand all the different financing options available to your business, and the pros and cons of each, is the best way to make sure you choose the best option for your business. The use of alternative financing can help your company grow without diluting your ownership. After all, it’s your business – shouldn’t you keep as much of it as possible?

The Importance of Good Nutrition at Any Age

Nutrition is a complex and fast developing science. Nutrition is the science that deals with all the various factors of which food is composed and the way in which proper nourishment is brought about. Nutrition is part of every family’s health responsibility. Nutrition is the process by which we take in and use food and supplements for health, growth, and energy.NutritionThe national obsession with healthy eating (or at least talking about healthy eating) is translating into a booming business for the companies that restaurants and food processors turn to for performing nutritional analyses of their products.Nutritional management, in the form of a meal plan designed especially for you, will help you to maintain blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible, and maintain or lose weight. Nutritional therapists are increasingly playing a prominent role in helping individuals with their wellbeing. Nutritional therapists call on the latest developments in nutritional thinking and technology to achieve this. And optimal nutritional status is a prerequisite for optimal health. Against a poor nutritional background even exercise can be a stressor, depleting minerals, B vitamins and antioxidants that are not being replacedBody & AgeAfter age fifty there are many metabolic and physiological changes which impact on the nutritional needs of an individual. There are a wide range of reasons why older individuals might not be eating the most nutritious diet which is all the more reason why health professionals and care providers need to be constantly aware of the necessity for maintaining an optimal nutritional health status in the elderly. Nutrition advise for older adults should be designed to respond to the changing physiological, psychological, social and economic capabilities of the individual while assuring that the overall nutritional needs are met with the freedom to keep meals and eating an important aspect to the quality of life during the later years.

Healthcare Reform and Changes in Pharmacy Ratings

US President Obama has just recently passed the divisive shifts to the nation’s healthcare policies. The bill allows for the health insurance coverage of around thirty million citizens not benefiting from the deficiency in proper medical care. Historically, Obama is the first American president to have comprehensively renewed the country’s healthcare system. The clinical and pharmacy businesses, in turn, will have to do big adjustments in line with the nation’s healthcare policies, which are following the model of European nations like the UK. Over 16 million citizens will be included in Medicaid’s policies. This covers low- to middle-income-earning citizens. Private insurance companies are banned from refusing medical care for pre-existing conditions such as heart or bone problems.The reform has been anticipated to have an overall uplifting change on the pharmacy businesses. The bill grants complete insurance plans to an added number of US citizens. In terms of pharmacy industry matters, the bill gives pharmacist-provided medication therapy management (MTM) services. It also has a loan forgiveness agenda. On the downside, the Medicare reimbursement to pharmacies is still unclear. It will take several years for businesses to smoothen out these details.Since the US is using Europe’s healthcare model, American pharmacies will have to change their buying systems as well. The demand to change their market will majorly influence the companies involved in driving the national medical economy. With the greater insurance plan, pharmacies will benefit from more customers hitting their stores to buy medicines. They’re no longer restricted by the unemployment or the severity of their condition. The challenge for pharmacies will arise from the deficiency in major choice makers, according to Chris Weight, co-author of the book “Drivers of Change to Pharmaceutical Commercial Models.” They’ll have to advertise their medicines to a larger organizations: Medicaid and Medicare. Pharmacy ratings will ultimately depend on these government payers. In the United Kingdom, pharmaceutical executives market their items to public healthcare payers instead of an individual and specific market. Instead of marketing the medicines at a profitable value, the drugs are sold at the lowest possible price. This will be a major shift for many community drug stores, which supply both generic and branded medications. it’s important for local American pharmacies to consult with European companies about their buying and marketing methods.Pharmacy benefit managers will be boosted from the extended drug coverage given by Medicare, due to this policy. Expect additional medicine benefits part of your company’s medical insurance coverage. Your plan, though, can only be directed by where you work. Anticipate some limitations and added advantages together.Online pharmacies will have fewer adjustments as compared to local drug stores. They presently sell at low and practical costs to customers under a tight and tiny budget. Most online pharmacies supply generics as an alternative to the more expensive brand name medicines. These businesses need to be careful as the bill provides a 75 percent discount to generic and brand name. Nevertheless, because these online pharmacies supply a private market, they’ll have to redirect marketing to public health payers and suppliers. It is obviously a total change for an Internet business. Nonetheless, pharmaceutical websites can continue to profit from persons who favor to obtain their drugs from private suppliers. Online pharmacies continue to be a convenience for individuals who stay in far off areas or require large amounts of drugs. Individuals who’ll be enjoying the prolonged clinical plan should talk about their options with their local or online pharmacy. Buyers loyal to online pharmacies can save more cash by using the insurance plan.