deem finance

When it comes to setting up a new business, it can be difficult to come to terms with business terminology – especially if the process of setting up and running a company is completely alien to you. For instance, speaking to your bank about asset and sales finance may be a daunting notion in itself; but when you consider the possibility of getting tangled up in the jargon – and perhaps even losing credibility with your bank – the experience seems even more intimidating. However, if you keep your wits about you and make sure that you’re up to date on the latest financial terms, your bank’s asset and finance solutions are sure to benefit your business.

Make sure you begin with the basics: for starters, familiarize yourself with what asset and sales finance is. Essentially, asset and sales finance is a service through which banks can help businesses obtain a range of equipment – including plant and machinery, IT equipment, commercial vehicles, office furniture and cars, among a range of other necessary business items. The fundamental difference between asset financing and sales financing is that sales financing will help businesses obtain quick access to cash, while asset financing helps companies fund business equipment.

Cost-effective and expedient sales financing solutions will help businesses find enough working capital for operation. Factoring and invoice discounting are two important sales financing solutions. With factoring, for instance, up to 95 per cent of the value of approved invoices can be advanced within a certain time period, with the balance being paid on receipt. Invoice discounting involves a similar process, but with one crucial difference: in factoring, the client’s customers are aware of the bank’s involvement, whereas in invoice discounting they are unaware.

Asset financing is important because it will help business owners acquire assets in a financially viable way, without eating into vital cash reserves. Many banks and financial providers will offer a range of asset financing solutions to its customers. Hire Purchase is one example of an asset financing solution; this can help businesses obtain the asset they need immediately, but payments may be spread across the life of the asset in question. Hire purchase schemes will often allow you to keep the asset in question for a certain fee at the end of your term. Another important asset financing solution, called Operating lease, will allow a business to benefit from a particular asset, while the bank itself will take on the risk of the depreciating value of the asset.

Various banks and financial providers will offer a range of asset and sales finance solutions to their customers, regardless of the business tools and supplies that are needed. For example, some asset and sales finance providers, like Barclays Asset and Sales Finance will offer two separate leases: a Technology Lease to help a business’ technology needs and an Agricultural Lease which offers finance towards the purchase of machinery, land and vehicles, as well as a range of other benefits.

One of the main reasons as to why new business ventures fail is due to a lack of financial funding to get the business venture off the ground. Many people don’t realise how much opening and running a business actually costs. If you don’t research and seek out business finance you will be unable to pay for your business premises, all of your necessary equipment, your bills and your staff wages as well as any of the stock that you will need.

You also need to ensure that when you decide on your business finance that you choose the one that is best for your business. Finance comes in many different forms and can be split into two main sections; equity finance and debt finance. The definition of equity finance is money that is invested into your business that doesn’t need to be repaid. This money is yours to use in return for a share of your business profit. As well as getting money invested into your business with equity finance you will also gain expertise and business contacts that are yours to use. The second main type of business finance is debt finance. This is money that is loaned to you. It is money that requires the need to be repaid over an agreed amount of time. You will have to repay the loan in full with added interest but no percentage of your shares are handed over.

Some examples of equity finance include business angels; these are entrepreneurs who invest a certain amount of money into your business. In return for the money that is invested a business angel will gain some of your shares so that they get a percentage of your profit. Business angels are perfect for start-up businesses as they provide money that doesn’t require the need to be repaid as well as expert advice about the best way of running your business. Another example of equity finance comes in the form of a venture capitalist. A venture capitalist is virtually the same as a business angel apart from they can provide higher amounts of finance and tend to invest more in established businesses where the risk of failure is reduced.

Some example of debt finance include; bank loans. When most people think of start up business finance the first place that comes to mind is their bank even though banks are very weary about lending money to new businesses as there is fear that the monthly repayments will not be kept up-to-date. Another example is credit cards; these are expensive when it comes to start-up finance but they are also a quick way of raising finance. One more example of debt finance is overdrafts; these can be expensive but are a flexible form of borrowing, they are not suitable for long term finance and are repayable on demand.

Although with debt finance you have a lot more options open to you with ways of lending money, the option of equity finance is still more favourable with new businesses as a private investor will do everything that they can to ensure that your business is a success.