Introduction: Businesses seeking financing typically evaluate options based solely on annual percentage rates (APR), often perceiving traditional bank loans as more cost-effective than alternative financing solutions like factoring or revenue-based lending. However, this simplistic comparison overlooks a crucial variable: the speed of funding. Traditional banks, while potentially offering lower nominal APRs, frequently take upwards...
Category: Alternative Financing
The Working Capital Cycle
An RBF Framework for Making Credit Decisions In the landscape of alternative finance, where small businesses often seek capital when traditional banks decline to lend, understanding the working capital cycle is crucial. This financial metric not only provides insights into a company’s operational efficiency but also serves as a more reliable indicator for lending decisions...
Understanding Your Guaranty: Personal, Performance, and/or Validity
Is your lender asking for a guarantee? A guarantee is the assurance that you will fulfill a commitment or obligation. When used in lending, a guaranty is a legal covenant and financial promise that you will fulfill your end of the bargain in its entirety. Understanding your guaranty is crucial to any borrowing decision. There...
Selling Equity vs. Borrowing: The Advantages and Disadvantages
Business owners often face a critical decision when seeking capital: should they sell equity or borrow funds through debt? Each option presents its own set of advantages and disadvantages, making it essential to evaluate the broader implications before committing to one strategy. In startup/founder circles and spheres of influence, “Equity” is the most understood and...
Understanding Embedded Finance
If you operate a business through platforms like Shopify or Square, you may have encountered loan offers that promise quick cash in exchange for a portion of your future income. This phenomenon is a prime example of Embedded Finance, a growing trend that integrates financial services directly into non-financial platforms. Understanding embedded finance and its...