small business funding Archives - Excel Capital Management

How to Get a Home Based Business Loan: 5 Options

April 18, 2024April 17, 2024 by Excel Capital

HOME-BASED BUSINESS LOANS FEATURED IMAGE

Getting the funding you need for a home-based business can be challenging.

In addition to the challenges of starting a home-based business– applying for licenses, filing taxes– acquiring business capital to start, grow, or expand your business is a process all in itself. You may find you self asking your self how to get a loan for a home based business?

Many small companies usually start as home-based businesses. It is at this stage where the owner lays the foundation for their future business. It’s also the stage where owners face their biggest challenges.

Aside from getting clients, one of the biggest challenges for business owners is finding financing. Unfortunately, home-based businesses have few financing options. Many banks look down on this type of funding but we have some options for you.

That’s where home-based business loans comes in.

Fortunately, there are several programs available when it comes to home-based business financing, each with different advantages. Read on to find out more.

Obtain fast funding for your home-based business. Apply with Excel Capital: Apply Now

5 Home Based Business Loan Options

Home-based business loan options for small business owners.

1. Equipment Financing

Equipment financing helps business owners purchase any type of equipment needed to run the business.

The loan amount is dependent upon the type of equipment needed, as the repayment term is usually as long as the expected life of the piece of equipment and if it is used or new.

2. Split Funding / Merchant Cash Advance

Split funding, also referred to as a merchant cash advance, works on a “pay as you earn” model.

It is important to know that Split Funding is not a loan. Instead, a flat percentage of your business’ credit and debit sales are automatically debited daily and put towards the repayment of your loan.

If your business does a large amount of sales one day, a larger payment is taken out to pay back the advance. If a small amount of sales is done that particular day, you pay less. There is no fixed payment amount or maturity date. This type of funding is available only to businesses that accept credit card payments.

3. Short-term Loan

Short-term loans are used as a way to fill an immediate financial needs and fix cash flow issues.

Most lenders that provide this type of loan do not require a lot of paperwork and they can be used for virtually any business purpose.

Common uses of short-term business loans are inventory purchases, new hires and employee training, equipment repairs, and filling gaps between accounts payable and receivable. This financing solution mean shorter having a shorter repayment schedule with higher costs. Short-term business loans are generally paid back via weekly ACH payments.

In contrast, traditional term loans are paid back within a fixed term and a set interest rate. While traditional term loans allow you to build business credit and have fixed monthly payments, they come with less flexible terms and rates and penalties may be charged if the loan is paid off early.

4. ACH Loan

ACH loans typically require personal guarantees, and have a fixed repayment schedule that is paid either daily, weekly or monthly. They are a popular funding solution for businesses that do not accept credit cards or want a set repayment schedule.

Whether you need the working capital obtained through an ACH Business Loan for inventory purchases, new hires, employee training, purchasing equipment, or almost anything else for your business, this funding solution can be extremely beneficial.

Unlike traditional business loans, funds from an ACH Business Loan disburse in as little as three business days after being approved for funding.

Additionally, this funding product does not require a minimum credit score to qualify, which means many up and coming businesses or businesses experiencing a rough financial period. Having collateral is not necessary to qualify, so business owners who have poor credit or lack business history can still apply for this great funding solution.

5. Business Line of Credit

A business line of credit is a rotating loan, also known as a “LOC,” that gives business owners access to a fixed amount of money, which they can use day-to-day according to their need for cash. Interest is only paid on the amount of the advance actually used.

There are two types of Business Lines of Credit:

1. Unsecured Business Line of Credit

Unsecured business lines of credit do not require borrowers to pledge any assets as collateral.

As a result, this tends to be a more popular type of business credit line to business owners. However, they are much more risky for the lender, therefore your credit score must be excellent.

In addition, they tend to be smaller with higher interest rates.

2. Secured Business Line of Credit

A secured business line of credit requires business owners to put up assets as collateral in order to obtain the loan.

While lenders do not typically require business owners to pledge assets like property, they will require the collateral in the form of inventory, accounts receivables, and more. Consequently, if you are unable to pay back the loan, your lender will seize your collateral in order to pay the balance.

Both secured and unsecured business lines of credit will require your business to be in good standing.

Lenders typically prefer to work with businesses that are well-established and in good financial standing, thus proving to the ability to pay back the loan. Depending on the lender, various financial documents will be requested to support this.

Get the capital your home-based business needs. Apply for an unsecured business line of credit with Excel Capital: Apply Now

How to Get a Home-Based Business Loan: What Do you Need to Get Approved?

One of the benefits that come with alternative lending is a fast application and approval process.

Business owners don’t need to fill out or submit mounds of paperwork, or have to wait months to receive an approval or decline. Once a business has been approved, they can be funded in a little as a week.

The initial documentation is typically enough to get funding, but there are instances when additional documentation may be requested depending on the lender.

The following is the standard business documentation you should have prepared when starting the application process:

One-page application
Voided check (for your business account)
Copies of identification for all owners
Proof of ownership – Last filed Tax return , By laws for corporation or Articles of Organization for and LLC
Proof of EIN – If you do not have a tax return most funders can use a EIN letter or SS4 Letter along with proof of ownership
Three months of bank statements
Aging AR report if your in an industry where you have billing net 30-90

While not everything may be requested, the more the better here. Getting your documentation ready ahead of time will also speed up the time to fund, allowing you to get the capital you need ASAP.

Acquire a Home-Based Business Loan with Excel Capital

Finding funding for a home based business can be tough.

However, at Excel Capital, we strive to make obtaining funding easier and more convenient for small business owners in need of capital.

The application process is quick and, if approved, you could obtain funding in as little as 24-48 hours.

Click below to start your application:

Apply in minutes, get fast funding for your home-based business: Get Started

Construction Business Loans: Get the Funding Your Business Needs Today [2024 Guide]

April 18, 2024April 17, 2024 by Excel Capital

CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS LOANS FEATURED IMAGE

Construction Business Loans: Everything You Need to Know

As a general contractor, you know that obtaining construction business loans is important to running a construction business and operating in a fluid fashion.

Full payment for a project does not typically come until at least 90 days after the project start date, but construction costs don’t wait around, which makes construction loans a necessity to function.

When a new job is taken on you receive a small down payment upfront as well as progress payments or tiered payments as the job hits certain milestones. This delayed payment structure makes obtaining construction business loans crucial to maintain positive cash flow.

Because of this structure, contractors need to come out of pocket for many expenses such as:

Payroll
Material Costs
Insurance
Equipment

Contractors know that obtaining funding is the solution. But what do you do when you can’t be approved– or can’t wait– for a traditional bank loan?

Why Take Out a Small Business Loan Instead of Going to Your Local Bank or Traditional Lender?

It’s all about timing.

Most banks and traditional lenders (such as SBA loans) take way too long on loan approvals. And even if you try to avoid the timing issue by planning when you need it, many contractors that apply for construction financing with their local bank find that they can’t be approved without collateral.

Banks use traditional underwriting practices, which places the commercial construction industry in a high-risk bracket. That means you’ll need to have something to put down to secure the loan otherwise you’re not likely to be approved.

However, this needlessly puts you at additional risk on each and every job. Not to mention, puts you under extra stress that you don’t need.

Alternative lending offers a way around these strict requirements and gives business owners a path forward.

At excel we’ve worked with hundreds of construction business owners to offer unsecured loan options that give you the funding you need while affording the flexibility to get approved without having to put down hefty collateral.

Short application, get approved in as little as 24-48 hours: Apply Now

Types of Construction Loans: Alternative Loan Options

So, what are your options for construction loans?

Well, you’ve got a lot. And it all comes down to what you need the funds for and what type of loan fits your business and the types of construction projects you take on.

As mentioned above, no matter what you need funding for, there are several working capital loan options available. However, some construction loan options are designed for specific needs while others are more general.

Let’s break each down individually to give you a better idea of which might be a good fit for you:

1. Equipment Financing

Equipment financing is used to help you purchase whatever equipment your business needs to run smoothly.

The loan amount is dependent upon the type of equipment the borrower needs, as the repayment term is usually as long as the expected life of the piece of equipment.

2. Invoice Factoring

Invoice factoring is used for short-term cash flow issues, especially when your business doesn’t qualify for a traditional bank loan or any other alternative solution. That’s because it depends less on your credit score and more on other business factors such as your accounts receivable.

The lender will factor your business’ customer’s invoices to match your working capital needs.

This type of program is rarely used for contractors since progress payments cannot be factored. Factoring companies only use invoices for work complete. In the construction business, it typically happens this way.

3. Unsecured Business Loans

Unsecured business loans were designed for business owners to enjoy the benefits of a merchant cash advance who do not accept credit cards at there business. Most contractors do not receive credit card payments – and even if they do its typically a very small percentage of the annual gross sales.

This works as a purchase of future sale at a discount that is converted into a set payment. This payment is remitted via ACH usually daily, weekly or monthly.

This allows you as the borrower to get construction loans without any collateral, just your sales. It also requires a lower credit score compared to traditional lending for the same reason.

4. Merchant Cash Advance

For those of you who accept credit cards at your business, split funding, or a merchant cash advance, is a construction business loan based on a purchase of your future credit card sales at a discount.

Payments are collected at a set percentage of your credit card sales, which is nice because that means when business is down– so are your payments. And when there is no business– no percentage.

For that reason, this method really helps during a particularly volatile market or rough patch in your construction business.

It also doesn’t have a stringent a credit score requirement due to factoring in your credit card sales more than anything else.

5. Term Loans

Our fourth construction business loan option, term loans have a set repayment schedule and interest rate and mature between 1 to 10 years depending on the term of the loan. Most commonly being short-term loans which offer a quick lump sum of cash with a short repayment date.

However, keep in mind that a short-term loan, or any other term loan, requires financial statements as well as 2 years of business history and one filed tax return.

6. Business Lines of Credit

A business line of credit is a rotating line of credit which you can dip into whenever the business needs it most.

Similar to a credit card, so long as you pay off your balance you can continue to use that line of credit continuously. Interest is then only paid off the amount that is used.

7. Asset-based Lending

Lastly, with asset-based lending, the assets of a business, such as inventory, accounts receivable, and other balance-sheet assets are used as collateral.

Plus, because this financing type is secured with collateral, interest rates tend to be low and credit score requirements are lower as well. Having applicable collateral also makes an asset-based loan easier to obtain.

Complete our short application and get approved fast:Apply Now

How to Get a Construction Loan: How Do Construction Loans Work?

Ultimately, it’s up to you to do your research and find out what your best small business loan options are.

It’s your business and no one is going to look out for it like you will, so take the necessary steps to educate yourself and then take action to obtain the funding your business needs, whether that’s to keep things afloat or to take things to a whole new level.

Whatever the case, don’t let a lack of funding hold your business back from realizing it’s potential.

To apply for a construction business loan with Excel Capital, only four things are required:

Four months of recent business bank statements
Four months of business credit card processing statements
A one-page application
And just a few minutes to get started

We’ve made the process of getting a small business loan simple and straightforward so you can get back to what is most important– running your business.

Once everything is received, you can be presented with an approval, your loan terms, and funded in as little as one business day– that’s right, just 24 hours.

Get the funding your contracting business needs by completing our short, 2-minute application.

Excel Capital Helps Contractor Marty Secure a Loan: A Case Study

While the construction business is one of the oldest, most flourishing, and most competitive industries around, there comes a time when many of its business owners need access to working capital.

The cost of equipment, materials, payroll, and slow turn-around rates trump the cash flow coming in, and many construction company owners find themselves weighed down by bills and overhead costs.

Since the great recession of 2008, a traditional bank loan is no longer the go-to solution when it comes to acquiring capital.

That old-school way of doing things sometimes ends in heartbreak due to waiting weeks just to receive an answer. That’s where the alternative financing industry comes into play.

With financing solutions such as the ever-popular merchant cash advance, ACH loan, asset based loans, equipment financing, and more, access to working capital is easier than ever.

Funding Needed Fast

Recently, Marty, a construction company owner from Georgia reached out to the Excel Capital team.

Marty was in a crunch. He needed funds– and he needed them fast.

With a handful of projects on his plate, along with receivables due on a large ongoing project not being paid on schedule, Marty asked us for working capital to be used towards the purchase of materials, equipment, licensing, and payroll.

Marty’s workers and office employees needed to be paid and materials needed to be purchased. So, waiting for payouts was not an option.

In order to get things back on track, as well as to generate new growth, Marty asked our sales rep, Jordan for help in securing an ACH loan. A short term funding product, an ACH loan is paid on a daily or weekly basis by direct ACH debits.

Marty had close to $200,000 tied up in projects which wouldn’t come in for at least thirty days, plus roughly $150,000 in retainage for completed contracts. However, that was going to be payed out over six months.

He also had both a $2 million and a $1.5 million contract on the table respectively (both carrying a 20% gross profit), but those were not set in stone.

Marty’s company had no time to wait with other projects lined up and needing to be completed soon. However, they couldn’t be completed unless he had the means to hire more workers and purchase new machines to keep up with the timelines in place.

Marty Joins Forces with Excel Capital

To the Average Joe, these type of accounts receivable amounts seem amazing, but in the construction business, we know this revenue doesn’t always reflect the tangible finances.

Most, if not all, of the money is put back into the company to complete ongoing projects.

Whether Marty could wait until his own payday or not– he needed working capital now.

After supplying us with bank statements, a business lease, his driver’s license, and a few other minimal stipulations, we were able to get Marty $80,000 in working capital in a matter of only two days!

The daily repayment amount was only $400, an ACH automatically debited (so Marty wouldn’t have to worry about making any large monthly payments, he could focus on his projects at hand) which would happen over the course of 12 months.

It was as simple as that! No hassles or phone calls from banks, just fast funding, easy communication, and transparent terms. And, most importantly, peace of mind.

Get a General or Commercial Construction Loan with Excel Capital

At Excel Capital, we know that getting the funding you need is critical to completing bigger and bigger jobs and keeping your business going.

Reach out to the Excel team to find out if you qualify for a construction loan as well as to discover your options.

Apply for a construction business loan from Excel Capital: Get Started

Merchant Cash Advance: 2024 Guide

April 18, 2024March 7, 2020 by Excel Capital

What is a merchant cash advance?

As opposed to a traditional loan where a lender provides funds in exchange for an interest-based repayment plan, a merchant cash advance (or MCA), sometimes called split funding, is a purchase of future credit and/or debit card sales in exchange for a fee.

In addition to this, a MCA is generally much faster than a traditional loan, with the ability to be approved and have your account funded in as little as 24 hours in some cases.

And you can use split funding for virtually anything, including:

Inventory purchases
Equipment upgrades
Hiring and training
Payroll
Taxes

For those who need capital fast, who don’t have great credit, or don’t have any applicable collateral that could be placed down to secure a traditional loan, an MCA may be the perfect funding solution.

As small business financing alternatives go, split funding is one of the most convenient when it comes to repayment.

How a merchant cash advance works

An MCA is an advance on future credit card sales. Therefore, it’s best for businesses who function mostly off credit and debit card sales.

What is convenient about split funding is the advance is repaid, typically via an ACH or automatic withdrawal, based on a percentage of those daily sales. The amount which is automatically paid towards the loan is typically called the “holdback” amount.

That means if you have a dip in regular sales, the amount taken out for those days will also be reduced, making it easier to pay back the advance when business is down.

The most unique aspect of an MCA is that it doesn’t use a typical APR interest fee but rather what is typically called a factor rate.

Click here to apply for a merchant cash advance and find out what your options are: Apply Now

What is a factor rate?

The factor rate, which takes the place of interest as the primary fee associated with MCA’s, typically ranges from anywhere between 1.14 and 1.48.

By multiplying your loan amount by the factor rate, you’ll have a rough estimate of the total amount you’re expected to pay once you’re done repaying your MCA.

For example, if you get an advance of $25,000, and your factor rate is 1.3, you’ll pay $32,500 before paying off the advance.

The factor rate associated with split funding is generally considered to be steep compared to the interest on something such as an unsecured business loan.

However, it trades increased fees (in some but not all cases, and depending on the lender) for hyper-convenience, speed, and reduced credit requirements.

Example of a Merchant Cash Advance

Let’s take a closer look at how an MCA works with an example:

Jerrett, the owner of a local cafe, needs $20,000 for the purchase of new high-grade barista equipment and a few additional hires to meet a recent increase to traffic at his location.

Jerrett doesn’t have much business credit history, only having been in business at his location for about a year. So, he can’t depend on a bank loan to get him out of his pinch.

Instead, he decides to apply for a merchant cash advance. Because he has the necessary credit card sales, so he’s approved for the $20,000 advance and is off to the races. He gets all the equipment he needs and gets some help around the cafe. Business is booming.

Now that the advance has been issued, he can begin paying it back with a percentage of his regular credit card sales.

If his factor rate is 1.25, on $20,000 he’ll be paying back a total of $25,000. The repayment period on an MCA is typically between 3 and 12 months, all depending on how high your regular credit card sales are.

However, because the repayment period is based on the volume of credit card sales, it doesn’t affect how much you pay. Instead, your regular holdback amount is based on a set percentage decided by the lender.

Let’s say your holdback percentage is 10%. If you average $20,000 in monthly credit card sales, you’d pay about $65 a day ($2,000 total over a month) on average based on that day’s sales towards the advance and have it paid back in full within about 10 months.

The exact method which is used to repay an MCA varies, so in the next section, we’ll quickly cover each of them.

Ways to set up a merchant cash advance

There are 3 ways that repayment on a merchant cash advance can be set up. Here’s a rundown on the 3 methods:

1. Direct split

With this method, the lender uses one of several trusted credit card processors to place a “split” on your credit card sales (hence why it’s sometimes referred to as split funding), directing the percentage notated in your agreement from your credit card sales.

Each time you batch out, that percentage is automatically removed behind the scenes and you receive your deposit in exactly the same way as you usually would with zero delays.

2. Lockbox

If you’d prefer to not change your payment processor, or your merchant processor has early termination fees you’d prefer to avoid, this may be a more preferable method.

With lockbox funding, instead of switching merchant accounts a lockbox account, also known as a bridge account, is set up to split your credit and debit batches.

A lockbox account is a typical bank account which you’re given credentials to, however, with your lockbox account, each time a batch is settled the account automatically “splits” the amount by sending the designated repayment percentage via ACH to the corresponding account and deposits the rest of your amount into the account for your use.

The only drawback with this method vs. a direct split through a credit card processor is that there is typically a 24-48-hour delay in the typical amount of time it takes for you to receive your deposit after batching.

To set up a lockbox account, you’ll be asked to sign the lockbox form given by your MCA provider. Once your bank letter arrives in the mail for the lockbox account, the only thing left to do is call your card provider to have your deposits redirected to the lockbox account (which typically takes up to 48 hours).

3. Variable ACH

The final way to set up an MCA is as a variable ACH.

This is ideal when your merchant processor isn’t already one of the provider’s friendly accounts (i.e. a direct split won’t work) and you as the business owner don’t want to deal with the 24-48-hour delay between when your batches are settled and when the MCA holdback percentage is removed (as in a lockbox account).

A variable ACH requires your MCA provider’s collections department to have access to your merchant processor’s login portal. Your provider will log in to your processor’s portal each to check your batch amount and then issue an ACH transfer for the holdback amount.

This method of repayment requires that your provider always has access to your merchant processor portal, otherwise the account is considered to be in default.

It’s generally harder to be approved for a variable ACH as, unlike when using split funding or a lockbox account, variable ACH approval is dependent largely upon your average ledger balance.

In other words, while you can be approved for both split funding and the lockbox method with a high number of non-sufficient funds (NSF’s) or overdrafts, with a variable ACH your average balance must be high to ensure that the full holdback amount can be collected regularly.

Click here to apply for a merchant cash advance and find out what your options are: Apply Now

Pros and cons of business merchant cash advances

Here are the primary benefits, and drawbacks, of a split funding:

As a merchant cash advance is a unique small business financing solution, it has a unique collection of pros and cons which are important to review before deciding if it’s the ideal solution for your needs.

Pros

Get funds fast: An MCA is a good idea if you need cash fast as you can have the funds within your account within 1-2 business days. As opposed to a traditional loan, this makes an MCA lightning fast.
No collateral: They don’t require traditional collateral, instead using your future credit card sales as a kind of “soft” collateral. That means you don’t have to risk losing something valuable such as your property or important equipment in the case of defaulting on the loan.
Good credit not required: Depending on the lender, fair or even bad credit is acceptable for an MCA. This makes it an invaluable funding solution for business owners who don’t have the credit to be approved for any kind of business loan.
Repayment terms fluctuate with business: If business is down, your payment goes down with it. This makes split funding one of the most flexible and convenient small business funding solutions available.

Con: The factor rate can be high

An MCA offers several significant benefits. However, every funding solution has both pros and cons, and a merchant cash advance is no exception.

However, while many funding solutions have several different drawbacks, an MCA really only has one, though it can be a big one.

The factor rate on split funding can be very high, as low as an equivalent 15% interest in some cases, but as high as triple digits in others depending on various factors.

For that reason, it’s important to know what the terms are of your advance going in, how much you’re paying and are able to pay, and whether it’s worth it for you.

It may be the perfect vehicle to get you out of a tough spot, help you buy new equipment that can drive sales, or help you hire the seasonal assistance you need to make full use of a busy season. Whatever the case, weigh the cost and benefits to decide if an MCA or another funding vehicle is the ideal fit for you.

Who is a merchant cash advance best for?

Still wondering if a merchant cash advance is the right funding solution for you and your business.

Consider these factors when deciding whether an MCA is a good fit. It’s ideal for those who:

Accept credit card sales: If you accept credit and/or debit card sales, split funding may offer a more convenient repayment plan than a traditional loan.
Need a fast funding solution: If your funding needs are an emergency, an MCA is one of the best.
Don’t have great credit or enough credit history: Split funding doesn’t require great or even good credit, making it accessible to many who otherwise wouldn’t be able to qualify for a traditional business loan.
Don’t have available collateral to offer: Similarly, if you don’t have collateral to offer for a traditional bank loan, you won’t be able to qualify for a typical bank loan. However, an MCA doesn’t require typical hard collateral such as property or liquid cash.

How to apply for a merchant cash advance

Because a merchant cash advance doesn’t require good credit or a hard form of collateral, it’s generally easier to be approved for one vs. a typical loan which requires sufficient proof that you’ll be able to repay the debt.

However, there are still qualification requirements and an application process you should be aware of. The more you know, the more likely you’ll be to get approved and the better terms you’ll be able to get.

How to qualify

The first and most basic eligibility requirement of an MCA is which has been mentioned already: a large portion of your revenue must come from credit card sales.

Additional qualification requirements include:

In business at least two months
$7,500 or more in monthly credit card sales
$10,000 or more in gross monthly sales
No open bankruptcies

Merchant cash advance: Good or bad credit vs. credit card sales volume: Which is more important?

We touched on an MCA’s credit card sales volume requirements in this and previous sections as well as its credit requirements.

However, if you’re already convinced an MCA is the ideal financing option for your business and you skipped to this section to see how to qualify, keep this in mind:

Credit is not the most important factor, your credit card sales volume is.

With a merchant cash advance, your credit card sales volume triples as:

The primary qualification factor
The main factor which decides how much you can be approved for, and
Your estimated future credit card sales volume serves as a kind of soft collateral that guarantees to a lender that they’ll be able to collect on the advance

All of this taken together makes your credit card sales volume by far the most important factor for approval.

How to apply

If you’ve been operating in business for more than two months and meet the monthly sales requirements, acquiring a merchant cash advance is a simple matter of being approved.

To be approved for split funding, you’ll simply need to submit an application along with four months of bank and credit card processing statements.

However, in addition to this, you’ll want to gather several documents that may be requested after applying for approval.

A lender will review your credit card processing and bank statements to see that you fulfill the minimum monthly sales numbers. If you qualify, they’ll typically request additional documentation to finalize the approval.

Documents you’ll want to have in order to streamline approval include:

Driver’s license
Voided business check
Credit score
Business tax returns

Merchant cash advance alternatives

As we’ve reviewed throughout this guide, a merchant cash advance has several notable benefits.

However, if the tradeoff isn’t to your liking, it’s worth considering an alternative funding method. No matter what it is you need to pay for, the options below are fast and allow approval without perfect credit.

Term loan

Short-term and medium-term loans are closest to a traditional bank loan in that you receive a lump sum in exchange for repayment with interest. The repayment term on short-term loans is typically between 3 months and 2 years and medium-term loans up 5 years.

Learn more about term loans here.

Business line of credit

With a business line of credit, you get access to a pool of funds which you can tap into whenever the need arises. And, provided you pay back what you borrow, you can then tap into that line of credit again.

Learn more about business lines of credit here.

Get the funds your business needs– fast– with a merchant cash advance

A merchant cash advance is both a fast and convenient funding solution.

In addition to this, it’s an ideal source of extra capital for business owners who either don’t have stellar credit or any form of hard collateral to offer and therefore wouldn’t be approved for a bank loan.

Traditional bank financing takes months for approval. So, whether you need funding fast or need access to capital and don’t qualify for a traditional bank loan, an MCA is an effective source of additional capital worth considering.

Click here to apply for a merchant cash advance and find out what your options are: Apply Now

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a merchant cash advance a safe option?

Before signing a contract with an MCA provider, it’s important to first make sure that an MCA is the right funding method for you and your situation.

An MCA is based on your business’s regular flow of income, so if your business income is in a volatile period, a loan would likely be a better option for you.

However, if your business income is consistent, even growing, then an MCA may be a good option for you and your business.

What happens if you default on a merchant cash advance?

If you find yourself in a position where you can’t pay back your MCA, start by looking at your contract to see what options are available to you in default as it all depends on the advance, provider, and your particular situation.

MCAs are considered a purchase agreement, not a loan, so they’re not subject to the same usury laws as typical business loans. Depending on your provider, they’ll have various options and actions they may take if you breach your contract and go into default.

For example, your provider may sue for breach of contract, though defaulting doesn’t necessarily mean you breached your contract. For example, if you defaulted because your business closed down, that isn’t a breach of contract and there would be no recourse whatsoever.

If you’re having trouble paying your MCA, give your provider a call to ask what your options are for setting up a revised repayment plan and getting back to current.

What are the 4 C’s of Credit For Getting a Business Loan?

February 10, 2020March 8, 2017 by Excel Capital

The 4 Cs of Getting a Business Loan | Excel Capital Management

You’re probably already aware that your credit score plays an important role in determining your eligibility to obtain a business loan or line of credit and that’s why it’s more important than ever to know what the 4 C’s of credit are.

However, what most don’t know about the 4 c’s of credit is what specific factors lenders look for within that overarching category.

When determining your eligibility for a loan, lenders look for what are called the ‘4 C’s of credit’ and, in fact, they stretch beyond just your credit score.

The number and type of factors vary somewhat depending on the lender, however, the four C’s of credit were created to help simplify and clarify the loan process for small business owners looking to obtain a loan.

It can be looked at like a guiding light to help understand what lenders and other funding companies look for when evaluating a business for credit

What are the 4 C’s of Credit?

The 4 C’s of credit are as follows –

Collateral

Typically appearing in the form of property or other physical assets, collateral is any asset a borrower can offer to secure a loan.

If the borrower defaults on the loan, the assets they used as collateral can be seized. Many small business owners are wary of secured business loans because of this reason as they require hard collateral that is tied to your personal assets. Many business owners are and have the right to worry about crossing the line between business and personal. Making a business mistake shouldn’t have to affect your personal assets.

Fortunately, unsecured business loans often don’t require collateral, and if they do, it’s a form of ‘limited’ collateral such as a portion of business sales which isn’t required to be paid back if you go out of business, meaning the risks are much lower.

Capital

Capital refers to any business asset that can be sold to make loan payments. This includes available money and cash savings, investments, properties with equity, and other assets that you could sell or use to quickly obtain cash.

If business drops off and you’re unable to pay your loan payments for a time, lenders want to see that you have liquidity to cash out on so you can continue to make payments on time.

Capacity

Capacity refers to your business’ ability to make the revenue needed to pay back a loan.

Lenders don’t just want to see that you have assets you can use to pay off a loan (or which they can secure to do so), they want to see a history of being able to make regular payments regardless of those assets.

Character

The final ‘C’ in the 4 C’s of credit, lenders determine character by reviewing the borrower’s personal credit history and calculating several factors together.

Factors taken into account include:

Your total amount of debt
Delinquent accounts
Available credit
And whether you make payments on time

If you’re in need of a small business loan but don’t believe you can satisfy all four C’s of credit, don’t worry, there are several other options available. Now that you know what the four C’s of credit are you can easily understand how to prepare yourself and your business when you try to pursue a lender for any sorts of funds.

At Excel Capital, we provide a variety of financial solutions which we can offer even if you have bad credit.

Click here to complete our short application to get in touch with one of our financial specialists to see how we can help.

TrakLoans: How They Can Help Your Small Business

March 13, 2020December 15, 2016 by Excel Capital

As a business owner, you understand the importance of having the working capital necessary to grow your business and achieve success. Whether business is booming and you need capital for inventory purchases, expansion, new hires, and training, or you run into some cash flow issues over time and need it to these problems, most businesses will apply for funding at some point. You’re probably a little familiar with many of the alternative funding solutions we offer such as Merchant Cash Advances, Business Lines of Credit, Term Loans, and more, but now, we’d like to introduce to you the TrakLoan.

TrakLoans are a flexible, cash-flow friendly way to access small business capital fast. These loans work particularly well for businesses whose owners value having the amount they remit fluctuate with their daily payment card receivables. TrakLoans are also a stress-free funding solutions because instead of sending a large payment amount once a month, a flat percentage of your business’ credit and debit card sales are automatically remitted on a daily basis. That being said, a larger payment amount is only sent on busy sales days rather than slower days. Additionally, these types of loans have no maturity date and no fixed payment amounts. Thanks to this process, business owners can stay 100% focused on growing their business rather than repaying a loan. There are no checks to write or harassing phone calls coming to your business. The payment process stops automatically once the TrakLoan is repaid in full.

To add to the benefits, unlike traditional banks and lenders, alternative financing companies, such as Excel Capital Management, that offer TrakLoans have minimum qualification requirements. All that is required to get started is a completed one-page application form. No personal collateral is needed to qualify, and poor credit is not a deal breaker. For more information on TrakLoans, APPLY NOW!

3 Reasons Why Applications For Business Loan Get Declined

November 16, 2018May 19, 2016 by Excel Capital

3 Reasons Why Business Loan Applications Get Declined By Traditional Lenders and Alternative Financing Solutions

Almost all business owners apply for some sort of financing to grow their company at one point or another. When it comes to applying for for this financing through a traditional bank or lender, the process can be a tough one, and many business owners walk away with a big fat decline. While this may be disheartening, there are many reasons why business loan applications get declined and lenders are so strict, and there are still other options out there. Let’s take a look at the three main reasons why business loan applications get declined by traditional banks and lenders, and then take a look at the great alternatives that are available!

Why Traditional Lenders Decline Business Loan Applications:

Low Cash Flow: If a traditional lender decides to give your business a loan, they will want to see the ability to make payments back on the loan amount in addition to covering all other business expenses. Unfortunately, tough times do occur where businesses don’t generate enough revenue at certain times of the year – maybe they are a seasonal business. Some business owners, such as contractors, aren’t paid until jobs are completed or they must pay inventory suppliers upfront before they get paid. Tight margins typically do not sit well with traditional lenders and you could get your business loan declined.

Poor Credit, Bad Credit, or No Credit: Like NorthShore Advisory Inc. Credit Expert Tracy Becker told us in our exclusive interview, “in today’s fast-paced business world, more partners, lenders, and potential accounts need to make quick decisions as to which suppliers, borrowers, and partners they want to work with; decision-makers use a variety of business credit scores, indexes, and reports to discard unqualified candidates from being considered for a partnership or a loan.” A business’ credit score is a major factor when a traditional lender considers approving them for financing. Poor credit, bad credit, or simply no credit can almost always guarantee a decline. To learn more about how businesses can improve their credit score, visit: http://www.northshoreadvisory.com/

No Collateral: Traditional banks and lenders almost always require some sort of collateral to secure a loan. Collateral can come in the form of a vehicle, personal or business property, equipment, and/or other assets. If a business owner defaults on the loan, this collateral will then be seized for nonpayment. Unfortunately, many business owners (especially young business owners or startups) do not have collateral to put up when it comes to acquiring a loan, or the lender may not deem anything the business owner has as anything of value.

Your Business Loan Application Got Declined By A Traditional Lender – What Are The Alternatives?

Despite the fact that traditional lenders can take weeks to process your loan application and also require a lot of paperwork, there are alternative financing solutions available if you got your business loan declined. Unlike big banks, alternative lenders typically only require you to submit a simple, one-page application, 4 months of recent bank statements, and 4 months of recent credit card processing statements in order to get an offer and approval in a matter of days! Let’s take a closer look at the alternative funding solutions available to your business so even if your business loan was declined your options are open!

Merchant Cash Advance: Short-term financing transactions that are collected through a set percentage of your visa and MasterCard sales that are accepted at your place of business. Probably the most common term used in the industry. These do not have a set repayment schedule and are based on the volume of your business’s credit card processing sales. These are usually only guaranteed by the future sales of your business.

ACH Advance: A form of a merchant cash advance that is repaid on a daily basis by direct ACH debits rather than a merchant account. These are still a purchase of receivables and the amount debited via ach are determined by the amount of credit card processing sales that are batched out the previous day.

ACH Loan Products: These are a bit different than cash advances as they are considered loans and may have personal guarantees. They have a fixed repayment schedule that is paid either daily, weekly or monthly. These products are catered to industries that do not accept credit cards and need a fixed payment.

Accounts Receivables Financing: This is one of the oldest forms of funding in history. This is used mainly when a business is due some sort of capital for work complete and is billed on a net 30, 60 or 90. for example, ABC Trucking delivered goods for xyz logistics but only receives payment from xyz logistics in 60 days. ABC can then factor the money due from XYZ at discount to receive the capital due in 60 days today.

Invoice Factoring: The purchase of accounts receivable for immediate cash.

Equipment Financing: A type of loan or extension of credit to a business, with the purpose of helping the business acquire new equipment. Equipment Financing Extends only the capital needed to purchase a specific piece of equipment and is most commonly written as a lease.

Business Lines of Credit: A rotating loan that gives business owners access to a fixed amount of money, which they can use day-to-day according to their need for cash. Interest is only paid on the amount of the advance actually used.

Start-Up Funding/Loan: A type of loan that provides a new business/company with sufficient upfront capital to get off the ground.

Asset Based Loans: A business loan secured by collateral.

SBA LOANs 504 Loans: The US Small Business Administration 504 Loan or Certified Development Company program is designed to provide financing for the purchase of fixed assets, which usually means real estate, buildings and machinery, at below market rates.

Term Loans: A loan that is backed by a bank for an exact amount that has a specified repayment timetable and interest rate that are adjusted accordingly. Terms mature between 1 and 10 years.

It’s pretty clear to see why an alternative lender may be the way to go when it comes to applying for financing for your business. No complicated application process, no lengthy paperwork and documents, and an approval in as little as 3 business days! For more information on alternative financing solutions and what Excel Capital Management can offer your business, visit: https://www.excelcapmanagement.com/loan-form/